A Gentle Rebuke
Are you growing weary? Do you feel exhausted mentally, emotionally, physically? If so, you are not alone. All of us experience it at times. In fact, it is a primary tactic of the enemy. He seeks every way possible to wear us down and wear us out. His hope is to talk us out of our preferred future in God’s plan. One cold winter morning I received a wake-up call! I was just out of bed on December 14, 2014, and talking with the Lord as I made my way through my morning routine. Still half asleep and praising the Lord as best I could, I heard His precious voice, intense and challenging, “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?” I immediately knew it was a gentle rebuke from the Lord, but I also sensed it was more.
The words I heard that morning are found in Jeremiah 12:5. It is God’s response to Jeremiah’s prayer recorded in the first four verses. God rebukes Jeremiah by pointing out that He is allowing the “footmen” to defeat him. The Lord dealt with at least four areas in Jeremiah’s heart. As you read the prayer carefully you see that God was dealing with Jeremiah’s:
1). Complaining.
2). Accusation that God is sometimes unjust.
3). Desire for judgment on those who are not truly following God and, as a result, trouble the nation.
4). Impatience that produces weariness.
A Loving Invitation
How are you doing in these areas? Are you, like me, guilty of all? Perhaps, again like me, the one you need the most help with is in the area of impatience that produces weariness. Remember the challenge in Galatians 6:9? “And let us not be weary in doing good: for in due season we shall reap if we do not give up.” I want you to notice two powerful truths first, it is possible for anyone of us to grow weary while doing good and miss our harvest. Second, it is possible for all of us to refuse to grow weary and reap our harvest!
It is possible for anyone of us to grow weary while doing good and miss our harvest. But it is also possible for us to refuse to grow weary and reap our harvest! Click To TweetJeremiah gave in to weariness. The Lord said, “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with the horses?” It is a gentle rebuke. God was communicating to Jeremiah – there are tougher days ahead, and if you are falling apart now, you certainly won’t survive what is coming. But this is more than a rebuke: it is also an invitation to a place of higher strength, more significant influence, and greater impact! More than footmen are coming! Tougher times are ahead. But God is saying, My destiny for you is to enable you to contend with the horses! You will run with them and even outrun them! You are equipped and in training to deal victoriously with whatever comes!
Destined To Run
Far too many see this as impossible. Many in the church, view the tough days we are experiencing as signs of our quick departure. But God has destined us to run with the horses in the last days. How can this be possible? The Greater One lives in us! In the same way, God strengthened Elijah and enabled him to outrun the finest horses in Israel God’s supernatural strength will enable you to face whatever the future brings. [See I Kings 18:41-46]
God has destined us to run with the horses in the last days! #TheLift #KNM Click To TweetThink about it! The “hand of the Lord” came on Elijah outwardly and enabled him to do the impossible! We have the very Spirit of Jesus Himself living inside of us to strengthen, empower and enable! If Elijah did the impossible then certainly we can. We possess a great advantage over Elijah! The Holy Spirit is with us and in us!
We Will Overcome
You know that more difficult days are coming upon the nations of the world. The perilous times of great stress Paul prophesied about are here [2 Timothy 3:1] Greater darkness is moving in and covering this generation, but we are not called to have our bags packed and be sitting in a corner until our ride arrives! We are called to challenge the day! Challenge the status quo. We are called to go into everybody’s world and proclaim the good news of Jesus!
Greater darkness is covering this generation, but we are not called to have our bags packed and be sitting in a corner until our ride arrives! We are called to challenge the day! Click To TweetTherefore, I boldly declare over your life and mine today: we will not be worn out by the small footmen of life. NO! We will contend with horses and be victorious in every area of living. How? By holding on to the promise. We will keep our eyes on Jesus and run the race! Refuse to let weariness rob you of strength. In patience possess your feelings, thoughts and decisions. Be strong in the Lord! Don’t rely your strength, intelligence, or ingenuity. You can’t do it in your own ability. You can do it by the power of the Spirit of Jesus living big in you. You will live up to your calling! It’s time to run with the horses. Let’s go!
Keith Nix is the founding lead pastor of a thriving congregation, The Lift Church in Sevierville, Tennessee. [Visit www.TheLiftChurch.tv] He has traveled internationally since 1993 carrying a unique prophetic message of awakening to this generation. He and his wife, Margie, have one daughter, Isabella.
