Pressure Cometh...

By

May 4, 2009

“But he that received the seed in stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it; Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he is offended.” Matthew 13:19-20

God is still speaking and He has shown many of you a glimpse of His vision for your life. You have seen it and been thrilled by it, but now you are in a time of serious question, serious doubt. Why? Because of tribulation? The word tribulation literally means “pressure”. Are you feeling any pressure lately? If not, it’s coming.

The devil only comes to steal, kill and destroy and when he comes, he most frequently accomplishes his task by stealing, killing or destroying the word, the vision, the revelation God gave you. How specifically? By bringing pressure to bear upon you and then interpreting that pressure through his lens.

How does he bring pressure upon you? By finding unwitting accomplices whom he manipulates, usually without their knowing, to do his will. They are under his sway (Ephesians 2) and do his bidding. He will motivate them to speak or act in a way consistent with their flesh or their fears. These are not evil people, just disobedient. He may appeal to their greed, their lust for wealth or power and position, etc. What they say or do will usually be justifiable in their mind and may appear to most to be fine but something is driving them and they don’t know it.

Then the enemy, having moved them unwittingly against you, begins to interpret their actions to you in a way that may never have been part of their thinking. It could have been someone who God has called to fund your vision, but the enemy came and put fear in their heart and they withdrew. In the heat of that disappointment, the message may have come to give up, to forget about it, etc. After all, if God were in it, surely He would have provided and nothing could have stood in His way. Isn’t that what you’ve heard?

Here’s the way it is… Whenever God sows anything in your heart, the wicked one always comes to steal it. He will use whatever means available to do so. Your job is to receive the word, understand what it means and then act upon it recognizing that every word given you will be contested by the wicked one. Don’t give up. Expect the pressure. God will use that to turn you from carbon to diamond. To be continued…

Comments (17) - Post a Comment
FATHER, I thank YOU for this blog and the insight YOU speak through it to me. Help me to do the things YOU want me to do and not be diverted to the left or the right. Bless these people who take the time to share YOUR wisdom with us. Give me the strength to obey YOUR voice and do YOUR will. In YOUR name I pray...AMEN and amen! Blessings to you all. KLH
Kara Harris at 11:02am EDT - May 4, 2009
Thank you once again and Amen! Perfect timing and very much needed. Praying each of us has the protection of the Holy Spirit surrounding our vision as we push forward to accomplishment. Through Chist alone all things are possible! Praise God and Amen.
Bonnie at 11:10am EDT - May 4, 2009
Good and encouraging words, Sir. It's amazing that God always seem to put us through a test after revealing things to us. Everybody professes how true they are until they are placed in those pressure situations. Will we still believe what we were taught when the pressure comes? We all like the end results of the diamond, but no one wants to be that lump of coal that God has to take through the testing period. Going through testing is hard and uncomfortable, but those who bear fruit are pruned so that they will bear more fruit. To God be the glory forever and ever. Praise the Lord for you, brother. Praise the Lord for granting you the gift of wisdom and encouragement. Thank you and may God continue to bless you. Percy.
Percy L. Ealy, Jr. at 11:29am EDT - May 4, 2009
Absolutely perfect word and timing. The pressure is here on all sides and I was just praying through this in my morning time with the Lord. We need to stay pressed into God and those around us that are pressed in so we can unite as a body and gain protection from all sides. As we walk in His love and His might, He will be honored and glorified. Thank you Michael for staying pressed in at a time such as this and encouraging us with God's word and revelation.
Wende Jones at 11:30am EDT - May 4, 2009
Words are one of the primary weapons the enemy uses to destroy the vision, this verse is one of my constant companions: Ps. 31 20: Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Cathy McPherson at 11:35am EDT - May 4, 2009
As I read and think on this article, I want to mention that the persons used by Satan will often be most creditable. They will speak with authority; yet, at some time in their comments they will use personal pronouns. Listen for these pronouns. Yet, at all times it is wise to have scripture to backup your decisions. God will give you scripture references often referred to as \"rhema\" (translating a Greek word. This word means that God gives a personal message. Yet, do not interpret difficulties as always coming from Satan. God will lead us to make decisions that will cut-away anything in our lives that interferes with His calling and divine purposes for us. It is God's plan to take care of us, and He said that He will. He does not tell us the circumstances of how He will care for us. I have recently experienced God taking away things in my life that interfere with what He wants me to do. God has high and holy plans for the lives of those who are the called according to His purposes. He protects our calling by using the sharp edge of the word of God to cut-away distractions and plans that we have made outside His his purpose and plans for our lives. I rejoice for what He has done in my life; even though it has been very painful and resulted in great loss of things that are not eternal.
David Carter at 11:39am EDT - May 4, 2009
But i want to be a Diamond without the Carbon...pleeeeeease :)
ricky at 11:44am EDT - May 4, 2009
Very good...discernment is needed, however. to understand whether the person is so taken with the enemy that he/she is just disobedient, deceived or actually evil.
Bill Bennett at 11:55am EDT - May 4, 2009
Great and very timely word!
Mervyn Mediwake at 11:57am EDT - May 4, 2009
Hi Everybody, in the body! Absolutely spot on. But we must also remember the times we are living in. And remember, just like in times past, that some people are actually wicked & evil, and purposely intend to do harm-especially if they are materialistic. I have noticed that whether they are being used unknowingly, or knowingly, they always have an issue about the people of God 'WAITING' on the Lord. Because we don't wait passively (or shouldn't be anyway!) and are acting on the word, the enemy wants to destroy that, trying to making it appear as though we are working to no avail. They don't understand the principle of being able to enjoy your possessions & blessings. We know that when the Lord makes one rich, that he adds no sorrow with it!!! What a joy to wait for!! I have a really good strategy stance in these cases...It is best to (bring your case to the Lord), resist the enemy by ignoring him-It drives him crazy!
Pam at 12:25pm EDT - May 4, 2009
Thanks.
Gary Geppelt at 2:14pm EDT - May 4, 2009
Boy, Talk about a WORD in due season!!!! My pressure came in the form of a disobedient, rebellious, disrespectful and a bad attitude of a step child who had burned all her bridges as far as a place to stay was concerned. After 2 months of mess in my house, broken rules, broken computer, high phone bills, and a stingy spirit also, I put her out, with a fight of course on her end. After all, the enemy has created such a strong hold in her over the years, that he brought her to my house. We have prayed for her for years, and we are still standing that God will deliver her, I only realized, that He needs to deliver her somewhere else. I laughed out loud when I saw the subject line title. I had to respond.
KC Yon at 3:21pm EDT - May 4, 2009
WOW! I have to agree with the others, what a right on time message! In the midst of feeling the pressure so heavy, I've been walking around, hard to keep my head from hanging down, but just continually praying in the spirit for about 3 or 4 days, it's finally lifted! And the people that the enemy has been using have not been heard from! AND THE JOY IS BACK!!
Bill Sullivan at 6:29pm EDT - May 4, 2009
AMEN! And thank you.
Cynthia at 11:51am EDT - May 5, 2009
Absolutely true! Over the past year, I have been directed by the Lord to \"remodel\" my business to better match my underlying revenue model. I have executed those plans over the past six months and most recently, just as I made the final changes, people that I would have bet my life would have defended and supported me, attacked me. They attacked me personally and it really hurt! I see their insecurity and greed in their actions and know in my heart that our Lord will deal with them in due time. In the meantime, I am grateful for the many blessings that I have received. God Bless! And thank you Michael for your message. It was most timely!
Holly at 9:02pm EDT - May 5, 2009
Thanks for this, Mr Pink! What a timely message this is for me. Cheers.
Debbie at 10:12pm EDT - May 5, 2009
Thanks to all of you for posting your words of encouragement!
Michael Pink at 11:40am EDT - May 6, 2009


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