Okey Dokey. So, if we are going to be going through the valley of the shadow of death and we are going to be hounded by the head snake and his little serpents, we need to find a way to handle them. (Don't you just love the way I make a turn on words? I do have my moments of brilliance. Not that this is one of them but I might have one before we finish.)
Let's ask our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ how He did it. After all, no matter what the old schmuck threw at Him, Jesus followed His Father's will until He was a blazing success. The first thing that we have to consider is---Am I doing what God wants me to do? If you're not following hard after Him in the area that He has called you, why are you surprised to see a snake in your path? Why are you so surprised when things aren't going right? When your children aren't doing what they are supposed to be doing, don't you have a tendency to go off on them a bit? Nuff said? Let's go on to better things.
Let's say that you are doing what God wants you to do. Why does yucky stuff still happen? You would think that after the large amounts of lives that were changed during Jesus' ministry that the religious leaders would have accepted Him with open arms. You would think that the religious leaders would have been the ones to throw down palm branches in front of Jesus' path and shouting "Hosanna to the King." But they didn't, so why not? One answer if jealousy. The main answer is, the Word of God had already spoken that the Messiah would be treated that way. Now get this. This is one of those "BEHOLD" things. Jesus KNEW that these things would happen and His heart was already prepared to face them. That in itself is one key.
John 16:33-These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Jesus told us in advance that yucky stuff would happen but to rejoice in His overcoming power. Do you remember after Jesus was baptized and went on a 40 day fast? When He was weak physically, satan came to him. However, Jesus did not answer from his weakness, He answered from His strength-----The Word of God. At every strike of the serpent, the power of his bite was thwarted by Jesus' answer--The Word of God. That's how He handled the snake. He handled him with the Word of God.
Go back a few posts and review John 15 where Jesus gave us this formula. It is found in verse 7--If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Jesus had spent a massive amount of time in His Father's presence and meditating on His Word. He didn't face satan with his mind filled with the days' worries and the results of the latest football game or NASCAR race. The key to being a successful snake handler is abiding in the vine. Make a daily habit of walking into God's presence. Train your spirit to be in tune with His spirit. Then, soak yourself in His Word until you become a walking Bible. My needs are met--By His stripes I am healed--God loves me--Great is Your faithfulness--Your mercies are new every morning. Fill your mind with WORTHWHILE stuff, not with what it looks like.
The branch that sticks to the vine begins to produce fruit ONLY when it DAILY sucks in the same "juice" that the vine sucked in.
Jesus made a habit of being in His Father's presence, not for just a few minutes but sometimes for hours. Then instead of spouting off about what it looked like, He quoted the Word of God to each situation He faced. He had to walk through some snake infested areas but He NEVER FEARED. He had learned how to handle snakes so He was NEVER afraid to be around them.
Let's go branches. Stay in the vine and draw from His power.
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