Close but No Cigar

Warrior's Arise: August 10th, 2020

John 21:1-4 (NKJV) After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

The response "Close but no cigar" came from a time when cigars were given as prizes at fairground games when one was unable to hit the bullseye. The disciples went to Galilee but they were at the sea not on the mountain.

Matthew 28:16 (NKJV) Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.

It would seem the disciples got sidetracked on their way to where they were supposed to meet Jesus. The disciples were at the Sea of Galilee but they were not at the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. They were close but not a bullseye, no cigar.

We can begin our journey following God and the path He has laid out before us then something causes us to stop. We get distracted. We turn aside. We want to indulge ourselves in something secure and comfortable. We want stability and a sure thing; with four professional fishermen, fishing seemed to be a sure thing. They hadn't made it to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them to meet him.

What if they had been successful fishing that night? The hardest time to leave a place, a job, a group is when things are going really well. Especially if we have found a collection of success, friends, good benefits, appreciation, honor and opportunity. If they had pulled in a huge load of fish that night would they have returned to their families to share the abundance to receive the appreciation and affirmation, "You still got it son! Are you ready to come back to the family business?"

Just maybe God did not allow them to have success in fishing, because they might not have remained. After all, we tend to take the path of least resistance. At this point in time, following Jesus is uncertain and points to an end they never saw coming.

With four professional fishermen we would think someone would have caught something. They fished all night which means they didn't give up easily. It also means they were sure of their ability. They had plenty to help with the rowing to position themselves in the best place on the sea. And yet, they caught nothing.

Where could the fish have gone? Peter and Andrew would have known where their father's main fishing spot was. So would James and John. Yet, they fished all night and caught nothing. Not one fish, totally missing the bullseye.

God may let you go where you want to go and do what you want to do but it doesn't mean He has to make you prosper in a place or business that He did not call You.

In the chaos of COVID-19, the pandemic, the riots, and a number of politicians who want to keep us in fear and close our churches, what are Christians doing? Are we ok with having our right to worship together taken away from us? If the politicians can get by with it in California how soon will we be threatened with it here? Are you willing to wait until it happens here before you are willing to take a stand? There is one powerful thing you and I can do. We need to make sure we hit the mark in the center of the bullseye. I don't care about the cigar but I do care to remove the grip of the enemy who is threatening our right to worship the One True God. We must pray. We don't want to just be close with our prayers; we want to hit the bullseye.

I understand the enemy is desperately fighting to gain control and bring distraction upon the United States of America. But we are not his only prey, he wants to destroy the world. The enemy is furious at what Christians have accomplished in the last 3 years; 2017, 2018, 2019. He will stop at nothing to bring destruction upon all human beings. He is so jealous we are made in the image of God. It does not surprise me that the enemy supports abortions. He doesn't want another human being born, not another one who will look like the God he rebelled against. The devil is after America because three years ago President Trump moved our embassy in Israel to their Jerusalem. Before the rest of the world, America led the way in honoring God's chosen nation, Israel. President Trump has blessed America and prayed in political situations more than any other president. He boldly steps out and declares God's blessing upon America. Whether you believe President Trump is a Christian or not, doesn't really matter. Do you realize Daniel from the Old Testament served under 5 pagan kings, and three of them declared to their nation that Daniel's God is the One True God. Scripture doesn't say those kings renounced their other gods, but they knew the One True God was Daniel's God. Do you realize there have been less abortions in America because planned parenthood was exposed for harvesting aborted babies and selling their body parts on the black market? Do you realize in the last three years taxes have gone down, people had renewed hope to dream like we haven't dreamed in over a hundred years, live the American dream. More people started their own business and it grew. Inner cities were being rebuilt under the direction of Dr. Ben Carson. Do you realize in the last three years there were more people working among all ethnic groups than ever before? Do you realize how close our world was to a nuclear war but our president stepped in and addressed the threat of North Korea? Do you see how God has blessed America in the last three years; 2017, 2018, and 2019? The enemy was not going to stand by any longer.

In 2020 the year started off with the democrats trying to impeach President Trump with false evidence. (The president who blessed our country more than another other president before him.) The media was consumed with that circus and failed to do their job and report what was going on in the rest of the world. So we were all shocked by the news of COVID-19 and the president's quick response to contain the virus. Instead of babies being killed, we were faced with our elderly being exposed because local government officials put COVID-19 infected people in nursing homes with people who were healthy. Have you now watched the FULL video of what happened with George Floyd? I wonder how many could have remained as calm as the police officers who were trying to get George into the police vehicle? George was so strung out on drugs. He had nearly four times the amount in his blood stream of what has caused others to die. The autopsy reports reveal he had several drugs in his system and a couple of them cause shortness of breath. The police helped him get out of a vehicle, the driver's seat. If he had driven that vehicle and killed someone would anyone have said anything about the victim of his careless act? Do you see the enemy at work? COVID-19 wasn't enough. The enemy had to take it another step. Race Wars. Like never before in our history, people were prospering, getting along, honoring the gifts and talents each brought forth no matter race or social status. Not in every case but better than it had ever been before in our American history. Still the enemy was not satisfied. He went after out inner cities. Dr. Ben Carson was revitalizing the inner cities. The enemy unleashed the people to riot; destroy businesses, homes, and parks, kill people, and steal from anyone. The enemy wants our president out of office, because he blesses America in the name of the One True God.

The question all Christians need to answer: Have you been distracted from meeting with Jesus? Maybe you pray for yourself, for your meal, and your day but what about stepping forward, suiting up, and taking a stand against the enemy?

Close isn't good enough. Praying to protect just myself isn't going to be enough. We must think collectively, for all people. It is no longer a game and I don't want a cigar. This is real and we have an enemy who is out to steal, kill and destroy everything that is good and all God has done for America in the last three years.

Father, I ask for Your to light me on fire so I can ignite others to step onto the battlefield to defeat the enemy. Jesus told us to pray for more laborers because there were few but I am praying for warriors who know the Word of God, who will pray with boldness, who will bind the plans of the enemy and loose Your plans. I ask for You to call Your warriors, those who want to know the truth about what has gone on in 2020. The enemy is trying to take back the ground we have gained in the last three years. So many were talking about having our vision being 20/20 in 2020. The enemy jumped on that from the beginning and has been spinning his lies and working over time on our emotions. God, I pray You would open the eyes of every Christian and that they would see what they enemy is doing and has done. I ask for the Christians to come together and declare the mighty works of the Lord. I bless each mind with truth. I pray for the warriors to be fully armored, rise and take a stand against the enemy. We can do nothing on our own, we get selfish and distracted. We constantly fall short because we want the easy way but You make us strong, You call us back to Your ways, and You redeem us from our wandering. Come and strengthen us, give us the words to pray and the fortitude to daily take the battle to the enemy in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy

My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.