HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT



I really love the ‘protection’ that comes from being “Divinely Concealed”. There are situations that require anonymity so that YOU are hidden - even though you’re standing right in the middle of a circumstance!! That’s why it’s so important for you to apply the Blood of Jesus over your conversations, over the set of facts that surround events or situations you’re connected with, and over information that is required when making decisions.


You see, information is fodder - or food for the enemy. There are many times when the spirit-realm is not aware of your coming-events until YOU open your mouth! And the only protection you have when you - or the people you converse with - begin to speak is the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! Why? Because SATAN CANNOT PENETRATE THE BLOOD!

---------------------------------------


In the Book of Esther we see that Esther went undercover (in other words, she was silent concerning her family background) in order to bring truth and life to save God’s people. Mordecai, her cousin {who was her immediate ‘cover’}, directed her to keep silent regarding her family unit. This actually shows us two distinct issues: (1.) Esther was admonished to conceal her identity in order to fulfill God’s plans; and (2.) She was totally sold out to her immediate ‘authority’ figure who was, in this case, Mordecai!


The Jewish people were protected and preserved by the Hand of God from the threat of annihilation because of Esther’s obedience. Did she completely understand the importance of her silence? Probably not! You see: obedience to God’s commands is what brings favorable results - not necessarily full understanding of the “WHY”-part!!


Esther 2:10 (NKJV) says: ESTHER HAD NOT REVEALED HER PEOPLE OR FAMILY, FOR MORDECAI HAD CHARGED HER NOT TO REVEAL IT. She was obedient! That was her requirement! And through this, we see that God uses ordinary men and women to overcome impossible circumstances to accomplish His purposes.

--------------------------------------

Now, lets go to John 2:1-4 (NKJV). It says:

ON THE THIRD DAY THERE WAS A WEDDING IN CANA OF GALILEE, AND THE MOTHER OF JESUS WAS THERE. 2 NOW BOTH JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES WERE INVITED TO THE WEDDING. 3 AND WHEN THEY RAN OUT OF WINE, THE MOTHER OF JESUS SAID TO HIM, "THEY HAVE NO WINE." 4 JESUS SAID TO HER, "WOMAN, WHAT DOES YOUR CONCERN HAVE TO DO WITH ME? MY HOUR HAS NOT YET COME."

 

This is confirmation that Jesus was so much under cover that when He was asked to perform the first miracle, He told His own mother, “MY TIME HAS NOT YET COME!”

He was totally submitted to His immediate Authority Who was God, the Father!


Listen:

When we are under another’s authority, we find that our ministry is strengthened! Prophetic words become stronger, teachings flow with more anointing, and ministries mature as you submit. And this has been proven to be true through our missions-ministries! Our whole team is totally submitted and very aware that their success is in direct proportion with their commitment to God AND each other!!

Listen to Luke 7:2-10 –

AND A CERTAIN CENTURION'S SERVANT, WHO WAS DEAR TO HIM, WAS SICK AND READY TO DIE. 3 SO WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT JESUS, HE SENT ELDERS OF THE JEWS TO HIM, PLEADING WITH HIM TO COME AND HEAL HIS SERVANT. 4 AND WHEN THEY CAME TO JESUS, THEY BEGGED HIM EARNESTLY, SAYING THAT THE ONE FOR WHOM HE SHOULD DO THIS WAS DESERVING, 5 "FOR HE LOVES OUR NATION, AND HAS BUILT US A SYNAGOGUE." 6 THEN JESUS WENT WITH THEM. AND WHEN HE WAS ALREADY NOT FAR FROM THE HOUSE, THE CENTURION SENT FRIENDS TO HIM, SAYING TO HIM, "LORD, DO NOT TROUBLE YOURSELF, FOR I AM NOT WORTHY THAT YOU SHOULD ENTER UNDER MY ROOF. 7 "THEREFORE I DID NOT EVEN THINK MYSELF WORTHY TO COME TO YOU. BUT SAY THE WORD, AND MY SERVANT WILL BE HEALED. 8 "FOR I ALSO AM A MAN PLACED UNDER AUTHORITY, HAVING SOLDIERS UNDER ME. AND I SAY TO ONE, 'GO,' AND HE GOES; AND TO ANOTHER, 'COME,' AND HE COMES; AND TO MY SERVANT, 'DO THIS,' AND HE DOES IT." 9 WHEN JESUS HEARD THESE THINGS, HE MARVELED AT HIM, AND TURNED AROUND AND SAID TO THE CROWD THAT FOLLOWED HIM, "I SAY TO YOU, I HAVE NOT FOUND SUCH GREAT FAITH, NOT EVEN IN ISRAEL!" 10 AND THOSE WHO WERE SENT, RETURNING TO THE HOUSE, FOUND THE SERVANT WELL WHO HAD BEEN SICK.


This man’s faith was great! But he was also a man who had authority and who was UNDER authority!

Listen: the Kingdom of God functions on the principles of submission and authority!!

If we can’t submit to men that we CAN see, how can we submit to God Who we CANNOT see?! The correct understanding of authority is crucial if we’re to function successfully in the days ahead! Romans 13:1 (NKJV) says: LET EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES. FOR THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD, AND THE AUTHORITIES THAT EXIST ARE APPOINTED BY GOD.

And I believe it’s extremely important to realize, here, that GOD’S LEADERS ARE ACTUALLY SERVANTS WHO HAVE SHOWN THEMSELVES TO BE TRUST-WORTHY!!


---------------------------------------

So..............here we are today.

Matthew 10:16 (NKJV) says: "BEHOLD, I SEND YOU OUT AS SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES. THEREFORE BE WISE AS SERPENTS AND HARMLESS AS DOVES. ............another example of Divine Concealment!! Two thousand years ago Jesus instructed us to be smart in all our undertakings. And even now, His Word tells us that SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS NOT FIGHTING FOR OUR GOD AND THE KINGDOM; BUT RATHER, IT’S GOD FIGHTING FOR US - THROUGH US! That’s why you can NEVER take the credit for your success in ministry! If you’re successful - it’s because you’re submitted AND totally committed!!

Listen: the enemy steals EVERYTHING. He ‘owns’ nothing!! He steals ideas and plans because he CAN be privy to your conversations IF they’re not properly covered.

Remember: THE BLOOD OF JESUS CANNOT be infiltrated!

--------------------------------

So............................

There’s a Lion under all that wool! You see: the Slain Lamb is really a LIVING LION!

In John’s revelation, he wept because he thought no one was worthy to open the scrolls. But Revelation 5:5 (NKJV) says: BUT ONE OF THE ELDERS SAID TO ME, "DO NOT WEEP. BEHOLD, THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, THE ROOT OF DAVID, HAS PREVAILED TO OPEN THE SCROLL AND TO LOOSE ITS SEVEN SEALS." When John turned around and looked at the throne, he saw a Lamb! The angel saw a Lion, but John saw a Lamb!! Don’t you think it’s time for us to walk this earth as lions in sheep’s clothing?! We’re supposed to MAKE peace - not - KEEP peace! To “make” peace, YOU GO TO WAR!!!


What I am trying to show you is this:

Sheep are soft. They don’t hurt things when they run into them. They provide warmth just by being next to them. And that’s what we’re supposed to be: there for each other AND for those people we come in contact with! BUT, CHILD OF GOD, THE LION UNDERNEATH ALL THAT NICE, SOFT WOOL IS TO DESTROY THE ENEMY IN YOUR LIFE, AS WELL AS BE A WITNESS TO THOSE AROUND YOU!

Listen:

Holiness is the Divine God-given ability to be AROUND sin, but not be AFFECTED by it, or partake of it! Jesus didn’t instruct us to LEAVE this world. Rather, He told us NOT to become PART of the world system!!


Bottom line:

Jesus ALLOWED Himself to be crucified! And the enemy watched with total delight and satisfaction as Jesus took His final breath. Think how surprised Satan and his minions were when the LION OF JUDAH came out and kicked in the gates of Hell and took the keys from him! An undercover Lion dilapidated - totally ruined - Satan’s entire kingdom of darkness and took back the keys of death, hell, and the grave!!!


YOU conceal your lion’s mane inside sheep clothes with Divine Wisdom! YOU watch your mouth! YOU rightly divide truth! YOU voluntarily walk in true humility! YOU - of your own free will - submit to God’s authority over you!


That becomes the result of belonging to the Tribe of the Lion of Judah!