FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Scripture: Matthew 12:28-30, Matthew 16:3

Verse 30 makes a statement that amplifies verse 29 as it points to the use of har-paz-o in the New Testament. For an example the Greek word har-paz-o is very familiar to most of the New Testament church especially those of us who are familiar with 1 Thessalonians 4:17 which says, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” “Caught up” is har-paz-o and causes us to question why the stronger form emphasizes the church’s assignment of spoiling the enemy. If the rapture is the primary event why does the Greek hint it is a secondary event? The word translated “plunder” in Matthew 12:29 is dia-har-paz-o, the stronger form. Matthew 12:30 says “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” Almost every Christian knows the concept of the rapture, but most of us never consider the possibility of what the Greek hints at in the use of har-paz-o and dia-har-paz-o. Is it possible the rapture could be a secondary event? Could the primary, preceding and notable event be that of God spoiling the enemy? If that is the case it demands a far different preparation. Have we emphasized rapture prematurely? Should we be building our faith by praying in the Spirit for a great end-time confrontation with evil where God’s judgment as in Egypt gives us both transfer of wealth and a harvest of souls? Is evangelism about to change because of deep darkness on the people? Is judgment God’s primary way of cutting through deep darkness to bring salvation? If it is, then praying in the Spirit may be the only way to transition to possessing a wealth transfer in our future. Praying in tongues with its accompanying anointed unfolding of mysteries and building our house for God’s purpose may well be God’s path in this uncertain season! Connecting with God in this manner of prayer unfolds God’s heart and will fine tune our prayers! Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me…” As believers, we must not miss the times and the seasons. In almost every historical situation where the church failed to discern what the Lord was doing they ended up working against Him. The best way I know to avoid that is to pray in the Spirit! Jesus made that point Himself in Matthew 16:3, “You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” Saints, we do not want to be in that place. We don’t want to be looking to be taken out when the great rapture of using our faith to spoil the enemy and take away what the enemy is using to fund evil is something that we are assigned to participate in. The Lord wants us working with Him, may we do so!