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Chapter 33: I was Fighting my own
Personal Battle on Two-Fronts at the same
time that Israel was at War with Hamas. While Israel was at War with Hamas in 2023, I was Fighting my
own Personal “Two-Front Battle” in the Spiritual Realm and here on Earth. The Two Enemies:
Just as Satan was able to influence Judas to betray Christ –
Satan was able to influence those in the Galilee to oppose me. And, just as
Satan was able to work through Peter to put a stumbling block in Christ’s
path to keep Him from going to the Cross – Satan was able to work through the
Brethren in the Galilee because like the Apostle Peter, they did not have the
mindset of God – instead they had the mindset of man. Matthew 16:21-23 One
of the Reasons Jesus came to Earth was to Destroy the Works of the Devil – 1
John 3:8: The goal of the
spiritual forces who were operating through the people here on earth to
oppose me was Satan’s effort to keep me out of the Gates of the Enemy knowing
that Principalities would be dislodged from the heavens if I lifted up my
Testimony unto Jesus Christ as I stood in the Gates of the Enemy –
specifically the Gates of Hell in Caesarea Philippi and the Fatima Gate in
Metulla on the Border Metulla shares with Lebanon. And, when Satan’s angels
are dislodged from the heavens and cast to the earth, they bring their wrath
to earth because they know their time is short. Revelation 12 The Kingdom of Darkness is at War with the
Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven, and all Believers: God’s nature and purposes are multifaceted;
however, for the purposes of this chapter, the focus is on what God’s Word
reveals about Satan – man’s Spiritual Enemy and how Satan is able to
influence people here on earth. Because Satan, the Prince (political ruler) of this world and
the Prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2) is now at work in the
hearts of those who not only refuse to obey God, but who fight against the
purposes of God, which means that Satan will fight against us on a personal
level (Ephesians 6:12). Ephesians 2:2 2 in which you once walked. You
were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in
accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is
now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the
purposes of God]. Amplified Bible Ephesians 2:2 2 You
used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the
commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the
hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
NLT Satan is not confined to being the
prince of only the air – the wicked heart of man has proven to be another
realm that Satan works in. Just as
Satan put it into the heart of Judas to betray Christ (John
13:2; 27), so it is today. Until the end of the age, Satan will use
those who refuse to obey God for his evil purposes and work in their hearts
to oppose the Brethren who stand up for the truth. Ephesians 6:12 12 For
we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers
and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark
world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. NLT It’s not that we don’t have our battles with flesh and blood,
because we certainly do have battles with those who refuse to obey God. However, our battle with those that Satan
operates through in this world is easy compared with battling and causing the
downfall of our invisible enemies who operate through those people that we
can see. When we put on the full armor
of God and take our stand, we know that Satan and those in his kingdom of
darkness will continue to fall like lightening. We know from Ephesians 2:2 and Ephesians 6:12 that even though
Satan’s Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom and that the Believer’s battle is in
the spiritual realm, Satan is still able to work through those individuals
who, in their disobedience, fight against the purposes of God. Sadly, rebellion against Christ still
exists in the world today, not just in the spiritual realm, but in those
people who fight against the purposes of God. A
Two-Front War Against Jesus:
We find in Matthew 16:21-23 that when Jesus Rebuked Peter He said,
“Get thee behind me Satan.” Matthew 16:21-23 21From
that time on Jesus began to show His disciples [clearly] that He must go to
Jerusalem, and endure many things at the hands of the elders and the chief
priests and scribes (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), and be killed, and be
raised [from death to life] on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside [to speak to Him
privately] and began to reprimand Him, saying, “May God forbid it! This
will never happen to You.” 3 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get
behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting
your mind on things of God, but on things of man.” Amplified
Bible Just as Satan Attacked Jesus on Two-Fronts, he will attack the Believer on two fronts –
hence, the Two-Front War Against Me: When
I confronted the Believer whose mindset was not on the things of God – but
the things of men – he admitted that he was envious of my spiritual gifting
and had knowingly lied to me on things that he knew were very important and
on several occasions tried to undermine my ministry. This man was like the demon-possessed slave woman who had a
spirit of divination and who followed the Apostle Paul around for many days
declaring that Paul was of the God most high.
The problem was that everyone in the town where this woman lived knew
she had a spirit of divination; therefore, they would have come to the
conclusion that the Apostle Paul was speaking via a demonic spirit of
divination as well. And, that was the
goal of Paul’s spiritual enemy – to discredit Paul’s ministry. I said that to say this – those who knew
that this man who was following me around and discerned that he had mixture
in his life would have come to the conclusion that I did as well. And, just as Paul was grieved, so was I. This particular spirit will influence an
individual to “Vex” others. Paul was
very grieved and in the context of Acts 16:18, to be grieved meant that the
Apostle Paul was worried and was mentally toiling. It’s a hard spirit to discern – it was only
after several days that Paul, discerning the spirit, turned and cast it out
of her. In addition to the Brethren, there were several men who tried to
intimate me as I was literally standing in the “Fatima Gate.” Both the Believer and others were
influenced by Satan because of their worldly mindset. There were several times when I was at the “Good Fence” in
Metulla that residents in vehicles would literally stop and try to intimidate
me so I would leave the area, which is interesting because the area is a
tourist attraction. So, to make an
hour-long video on October 7, 2023, the day Hamas attacked Israel, would have
certainly drawn attention to my being there.
I know the Lord used Hamas’ attack on Israel that morning to keep
everyone away from the Good Fence Memorial that literally butts up to the
border that Israel shares with Lebanon.
Again, the people in Metulla are extremely sensitive to tourists going
to that particular area because of the closeness of the border Israel shares
with Lebanon and the complex history of the “Good Fence” and the “Good Fence
Gate.” In fact as we were leaving the memorial, two men who, had a
rifle in their car, stopped us and told us that they were very sensitive to
anyone in that area. And, after questioning me, said everything
was OK and to go on our way – but not before they let us know they had seen
us around the area and even described our rental car. Praise the Lord! He
allowed for me to accomplish everything I needed to accomplish at the Good
Fence and at the Good Fence Memorial, which is within walking distance of the
Good Fence, before we left Metulla.
And, both videos, the one I made at the “Fatima Gate” on October 6,
2023 and the video I made at the “Good Fence Memorial” on October 7, 2023 are
safe and sound back in America. Just as our spiritual enemy attempted to use the Brethren and
Unbeliever to put a Stumbling Block in my path even before I left for the
Galilee as well as after I arrived in the Galilee – over 350 years ago our spiritual enemy used the
Brethren to try and put a Stumbling Block in the path of my Scottish
Forefathers, Alexander and John Skene.
Alexander even wrote a Book “The Way Cast Up, And, the
Stumbling-blockes removed from before the feet of those, who are seeking the
way to ZION, with their faces thitherward.” “The Way Cast Up, And, the Stumbling-blockes
removed from
before the feet of those, who are seeking the way to ZION, with their faces
thitherward” is the title of a book Alexander co-authored while still in
prison: I want to include
the following comments about Alexander specifically about the above mentioned
book that Alexander co-authored because what Alexander wrote over three
hundred years ago holds true for my life. There have been many people in my life who
have tried to put stumbling blocks in my path to either keep me from going to
Israel or undermine me while I am in Israel, including this year in Metulla. After reading Alexander's own writings as well as the many books
written about him – I believe that of all his accomplishments, Alexander
would have considered his steadfastness of purpose "to earnestly contend
for the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy
people" for which he was imprisoned as his greatest accomplishment. Jude 3 Alexander was one of the many Aberdeen Quakers who were
imprisoned to the point of death.
According to Alexander - he was imprisoned because of his
testimony. And, this brings me to Jude
1:3 and "The Way Cast Up" the book he co-authored while still in
prison. Alexander Skene co-authored "The
Way Cast Up, And the Stumbling-blockes removed from before the feet of those,
who are seeking the way to ZION, with their faces thitherward" Jeremiah 50:5 5 They
shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come,
and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that
shall not be forgotten. KJV In accordance with Jude 1:3, Alexander Skene and George Keith
wrote "The Way Cast Up"
out of the necessity to disprove and refute the lies and falsehoods against
the people called Quakers. Reading the Preface and Postscript written
by Alexander it's obvious that, like Jude, Alexander felt compelled to defend
the interests and welfare of the flock as well as his own faith because they
all shared the same Salvation and Faith that God had entrusted once for all
time to His holy people - Salvation and Faith in the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Jude 1:3 reads
“Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the
salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something
else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all
time to His holy people.” NLT It's amazing that over 350 years ago when Alexander wrote the
"Preface" to "The Way Cast Up" his closing statement to
the Preface he wrote was an echo of Jude 1:3.
He ended the Preface with: "From the Tolbooth of Aberdeen,
where I am prisoner for the true liberty of all Christians: the 20 of the
12 moneth, called Fe∣bruary. 1676/77 and that he was a
a "real Friend and wel-wisher to the souls of all men. signed ALEXANDER SKEIN. I can relate to "The Way Cast Up, And the Stumbling-blockes
removed from before the feet of those, who are seeking the way to ZION, with
their faces thitherward" that speaks of the stumbling blocks removed
from before the feet of those who are seeking the way to Zion (Jerusalem)
with their faces thitherward. Jeremiah 50:5; Isaiah 62:10-12 and Isaiah
57:14 To set their faces (thitherward) towards the road that leads to
Zion indicates that it was because of their steadfastness of purpose that
God's Remnant would not be turned aside by any difficulties that they may
encounter on their way back to Jerusalem.
As it relates to Alexander Skene, it was because of his own
personal steadfastness of purpose that he was not going to be turned aside
from worshipping the Lord in spirit and in truth by imprisonment or any of
the other difficulties and obstacles placed in his path by the Magistrates,
False Pastors and inhabitants of Aberdeen.
A Spiritual Return: Quakerism was the restoration of true
Christianity - and those Believers like Alexander who wanted to worship the
Lord in spirit and in truth according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ were not
going to be stopped by those who embraced the manmade traditions of the
Presbyterian Church that nullify the Word of God. A Spiritual Road: Alexander's face and heart were
turned towards Zion where the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Church was
born. Alexander wrote that Scotland was his Israel - and so it was –
because we know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread from Zion to the ends
of the earth per Christ's command to His disciples. And, it was here in Aberdeen, Scotland
(Alexander's Israel) that like Jude, in his steadfastness of purpose
Alexander earnestly contended for the faith of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Like Jude, Alexander was grieved that his beloved friends had
allowed false teaching to seep into the Presbyterian Church - Scotland's
State Church. Worse yet, his once
beloved friends who at one time he had enjoyed sweet fellowship with - they
too began to persecute Alexander, his wife, his family and other
Quakers. They too were trying to
prevent Alexander, his wife, his family and others from leaving the man-made
traditions of the Presbyterian Church and worshipping the Lord in spirit and
in truth. And, in their steadfastness to contend for the Faith, neither
Alexander, his wife Lilias, his son John nor his son-in-law – all leaders of
the Quaker movement in Aberdeen - were willing to sit idly by and allow false
teachers to undermine and persecute those Quakers who were determined to
stand up for the true liberty of all Christians. Like Jude, Alexander felt such a heavy burden to defend the
truth that he was compelled to write several books and articles to confront
the false teachers in the Church of Scotland.
In his writings Alexander explained to his readers that they would not
be able to share a common salvation if they did not adhere to the doctrinal
truths that define the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Like Jude, Alexander exhorts the Quakers to earnestly contend
for the faith. And, in contending for
the faith Alexander and the Quakers of Aberdeen found themselves in one
agonizing situation after another wherein they were forced to dispute,
struggle and strive for the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the New
Testament. Their most heartbreaking and fiercest battles were battles that
came from inside the seemingly safe confines of the Presbyterian Church where
they once worshipped. They had been betrayed by Believers who were once
their close friends. And, without a
doubt, even today, I can bear witness from my own personal experiences it is
from inside the walls of the Church where the greatest challenges to
Christianity lie. For example, the students of divinity of the University of
Aberdeen were among those that were persecuting Alexander and the
Quakers. Out of necessity for the true
Liberty of all Christians and their zeal to contend for the faith Alexander
and his son John along with Robert Barclay and George Keith challenged the
Theologians at the University of Aberdeen to a debate. And, in contending for the faith, like Jude, Alexander along
with three others put in writing a true account of the debate so that the so-called
Students of Divinity who were still opposing the truth could not misrepresent
the outcome of the debate. Words are soon forgotten but their written
account remains unto this day. In his
writings Alexander would often explain to his readers that what he was
writing was also for the generations to come. And, so it is. How blessed I am to be a daughter of
Alexander Skene. The account of said debate, which can be read in full online,
was written down by Alexander, his son John, Thomas Mercer and John Cowie,
and published in 1675. Over three hundred years have passed since their deaths yet
their written accounts continue to speak to the generations that came after
them. How blessed I am that my
Scottish forebears committed their thoughts, beliefs, trials and tribulations
to writing not just for their generation but for my generation and all
generations to come. Hence – this book that I am leaving for my offspring that I will
never live to meet! There is no doubt that Alexander Skene was one of the
"Eminent" men of Aberdeen, Scotland. And, there is no doubt that of all his
accomplishments that first and foremost Alexander would want to be remembered
as a man who like King David was a man after God's own heart and that like
Jude he was a man who contended for the faith and the true liberty of all
Christians! Acts 13:22 and Jude 1:3 Like the Apostle Peter, Alexander was a man who had a reverence
for Christ Jesus in his heart - a man who honored Christ Jesus as Lord. And, like both Jude and the Apostle Peter
(1 Peter 3:15), it was because Alexander honored the Lord in his heart that
he was always prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks to give the
reason for the hope that we have in Christ: hence the book "The
Way Cast Up" and "A True and Faithful Account" of the debate
between the so-called Students of Divinity of the University of Aberdeen and
the Quakers.” Alexander was man who was always ready and eager to give a
defense to anyone who asked him for a reason for the hope that was him in -
for the hope that was in his heart. 1
Peter 3:15 Scripture reveals that the Lord will honor those like Alexander
Skene who honored the Lord and many Memorials have been written in memory of
Alexander Skene because he was a man who truly honored the Lord. Alexander honored the Lord in a multitude of ways and the
"Memorialls For the Government of the Royal Burghs in Scotland" - a
book written by Alexander Skene, is another example. And, at this point I want to share with the
readers the following excerpts from the "Memorialls For the Government
of the Royal Burghs in Scotland.” Among his many other accomplishments Alexander served as a
Magistrate of Aberdeen. And, if you
read the "Memorialls For the Government of the Royal Burghs in
Scotland" that Alexander wrote you will find that Alexander was a
Magistrate after God's own heart. In
the "Memorialls For the Government of the Royal Burghs in Scotland"
Alexander reminded the new generation of Magistrates that that those who
served in the Courts and Government should view their service as a religious
duty. Alexander Skene reminded those within Aberdeen's Government that
unless the Lord Build the House - the Labors labor in vain (Psalm 127:1), and
as such they should conduct themselves in a way that Aberdeen's government
honored the Lord. He reminded them
that the government rests upon the shoulders of Jesus Christ and that His
government will never end. And, so it is today, whether it be Scotland, Israel or America. Stumbling Blocks in my Path:
The enemy put many stumbling blocks in
my path to try and keep me from going to Israel; however, God enabled me to
overcome all the obstacles and I made my first of over a dozen trips to
Israel in 2009. Sadly, like those who
put stumbling blocks in my Scottish forefathers’ path – those that put
stumbling blocks in my path were from those who professed to be Christians.
Psalm 55:12-14 12
For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I
could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that
did magnify himself f against me; then I would have hid myself from
him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and
mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and
walked unto the house of God in company. ….. 21 21 The
words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his
heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. KJV Just
as Satan was able to influence the Apostle Peter – Satan is able to influence
Christians who do not have the Mind Set of God to put Stumbling Blocks in our
lives – Matthew 1621-23: Matthew 16:21-23 21
From that time began Jesus to show unto His disciples, that He
must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief
priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. 22 And
Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord:
this shall never be unto thee. 23 But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art a
stumbling-block unto Me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the
things of men. ASV Satan
used Christians who did not have the Mind-Set of God to put Stumbling Blocks
in my path even while I was in Metulla in both 2022 and 2023. There were many stumbling blocks that the enemy tried to put in
my path even while I was in Metulla and the Galilee in both 2022 and 2023
that the Lord removed from my path. After
the war is over, I Hope to Return to Israel – my Return will be a Spiritual
Return on a Spiritual Path – one that God will remove all Stumbling Blocks: I will always remember those in Metulla and
after the war is over, if it is God’s will for me I will turn my face towards
Israel and not be turned aside by any difficulties that I may encounter along
the way and once again return to Metulla.
I can relate to "The Way Cast Up, And the Stumbling-blockes
removed from before the feet of those, who are seeking the way to ZION, with
their faces thitherward" that speaks of the stumbling blocks removed
from before the feet of those who are seeking the way to Zion (Jerusalem)
with their faces thitherward. Jeremiah 50:5; Isaiah 62:10-12 and Isaiah
57:14 To set their faces (thitherward) towards the road that leads to
Zion indicates that it was because of their steadfastness of purpose that
God's Remnant would not be turned aside by any difficulties that they may
encounter on their way back to Jerusalem.
As it relates to Alexander Skene it was because of his own
personal steadfastness of purpose that he was not going to be turned aside
from worshipping the Lord in spirit and in truth by imprisonment or any of
the other difficulties and obstacles placed in his path by the Magistrates,
False Pastors and inhabitants of Aberdeen.
The
Gates of Hell – Matthew 16:
On the first full day after we arrived in Metulla in 2023, we went to
the Gates of Hell (Matthew 16) where the pagan god “Pan,” the god of fear,
was worshipped at the time Christ went to the gates of hell and in the Name
of Jesus I bound the spirit of fear (Pan) at the Gates of Hell from attacking
or vexing me. And, I am convinced that
while everyone left as soon as they heard about the attacks on Gaza, the Lord
wanted Satan to know that even though I knew that Israel was officially at
war and that Metulla would be one of the prime targets because of the border
Metulla shares with Lebanon, that I would not leave in fear after Israel’s
prime minister declared that Israel was at war, or get up in the middle of
the night and leave in the middle of the night at the sound of rockets
booming throughout the night. I wasn't afraid and I know that the Lord wanted Satan to know
that I would stay until the Lord told me to leave and that it is because of
the mighty name of Jesus Christ I will not stand still in terror; instead, I
will walk and make spiritual progress upon my high places of trouble,
suffering, or spiritual responsibility.
I will not fear in times of war, but I will walk in victory and not
fear. Habakkuk 3:18-19 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I
will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation! 19The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and
my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to
walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual]
progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! Amplified
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