Warriors Arise: March 15, 2022
Jeremiah 29:14a (NKJV) I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity;
In our captivity, God meets us. I would love to say that everyone held in captivity returns to live the way they knew it, but that isn't so. What I can tell you, God will meet everyone who is in captivity. He will strengthen each one. He will walk with each one of us through the shadow of death. Some will come through and sit at a table prepared here on earth while others will be seated in heaven. Either way, the enemy does not win. Death for a follower of Jesus Christ is not defeat. It is our ultimate victory. We have finished our assignment on earth and now live in the very presence of God for eternity.
Psalms 23:4-5 (NKJV)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
I have shared in several previous blogs our position as Christians, when it comes to where we should stand Scripturally and who has the final say. Our stance should be to believe until our dying breath. The final say is God's. He is the supreme authority. Patrick was in captivity for 6 years. The children of Israel were in captivity for 403 years. They were beaten, whipped and deprived. Patrick was isolated, had very little to eat and nearly froze to death. But he learned to pray. In my research from several sites, many say he did not take up Christianity until he was captured and made a slave.
There are times we are living life and everything is going well or at least bearable. But when life spins out of control and we need to believe there is a higher power, that we will search for God. Many find God, but are so angry with Him for allowing situations to cause hardship in their life that they reject the very One who can give them strength and courage. They position themselves against God. Rather than seeking Him for the way out or the strength endure to the bitter end, they try to take matters into their own hands. Generally, this will make the situation worse and we can never create for us what God desires to give us. What He gives us is the best. The best we can do for ourselves is second best. Who knows the distance between living the best life God has for us and the second best, the life we have created for ourselves. I would imagine there is quite the distance between best and second best. It would be the same distance as natural and supernatural.
Patrick's father is recorded to have been in government leadership, as well as a clergyman. How many times had Patrick heard his father teach of God and the Biblical history? Patrick was born in a well-to-do family. Historians all seem to agree that he did not have a relationship with God before being taken captive by the wolf ships of Ireland and sold into slavery to a man who posted the heads of his enemies around his territory. How would Patrick ever have any hope with a lord that was so vile?
Historians tell of Patrick praying a 100 times every day and even more in the night. I wonder if he was thinking of his family. Did he know if they were ok? I wonder if he prayed for God to hear him? How much of his prayers were in repentance for not acknowledging God and a relationship with Him prior to his captivity. Maybe he prayed for a second chance. Six years into his captivity a door is opened, as God speaks to Patrick through an angel in a dream, much like Joseph, Mary's betrothed.
Patrick wrote in the Confessio that six years into his captivity, an angel appeared in a dream and told him, “You have fasted well. Very soon you will return to your native country.” The angel told him of a ship leaving Ireland, and the young man walked across 200 miles of peat bogs and forests before arriving at a port, possibly Wexford, where he found a cargo ship bound for the European continent. (HISTORY)
Can you imagine? How quickly would you respond? He had a long journey ahead of him and timing would be everything. How long would it have taken him to walk a rough terrain to a place 200 miles away. Think of a place 200 miles from where you are right now. Then add rough terrain. Poor shoes, if any at a all, no cloak and a man who would have his men chasing after you to put your head on a stake. Would you go?
You would have no idea if the ship would be there when you arrived. 200 miles! How long would that take you to walk? According to Maniacs website, they estimate 66 hours and 40 minutes. Keep in mind Patrick was malnourished, maybe no shoes, walking over rocky terrain and through forests, encountering wild animals and realistically having no idea where he would find this ship. My personal thoughts are that the angel either directed his path and concealed him along the way or in the dream Patrick was shown the way. There is no record of God giving Patrick a vision before this. What if this was your first time to receive a vision from God. Most people I hear today who receive a vision from God drag their feet and want to pray on it. There are times when we receive a vision or a Word from the Lord in which we need to acting immediately. Praying is over. Patrick had prayed for 6 years over a 100 times during the day and more than a 100 times at night. Praying was over and pursuit of God was at hand. The ship would not wait and there would be no turning back.
But then he arrives and is devastated that the captain will not let him on board. What would you do? After all of that, you are exhausted beyond words as you ran with all your might to get to the boat and flee from your master who was now out to kill you. What hope is there?
After the captain refused him passage, Patrick began to pray. Before he could finish, though, a sailor from the ship came shouting, “Come quickly – those men are calling you!” After learning that the captain changed his mind, Patrick sailed away from Ireland, believing that God’s protection must have been responsible for his unlikely escape. (HISTORY)
There is hope that became the foundation of Patrick's faith. God brought him this far, he would not leave him. God gave him the vision. He traveled over 200 miles. His master's men did not catch him. He is alive. The ship is here just like he saw in the dream. The facts are too real. He cannot ignore them. So, he turns to God. He prays for God to intervene and the captain has a change of heart.
How many times do we get so close to what God has revealed to us, only to give up at the very place we should have been our threshold into freedom. Patrick is running. He sees the ship. He has nothing to offer. He can't pay but God has shown him a vision. He is to be on that ship. But the captain says, "No". Have you been in a place like that? You saw your dreams shattered right before you? What did you do? Did you accept the loss or did you pray for the fulfillment of what God revealed to you? Did you pray for the mountain before you to be removed into the sea? I cannot imagine how the captain's, "No" would have killed the last bit of hope Patrick had. However, for Patrick, it compelled him to press in. God had brought him this far, I imagine he would not quit now. He would fight the only way he knew. He fought on his knees.
Father, I can't imagine what Patrick went through for 6 years, his journey over rough terrain to get to the port with men chasing after him to kill him, only to arrive and be told he couldn't board. I hope I would find myself faithful to you. I hope I would know Your voice and understand the dream You speak to me. I pray I would heed the word from the angel. I pray I would respond immediately. I pray I would not waste time when it is "now" time for my deliverance. I pray I would believe and act upon that belief that You stand true to Your word. No man can prevent what You have ordained. Your word does not return to You void. I ask to clearly comprehend the dreams You give me. I pray I would act upon them immediately. I pray I would see them through, even if there is resistance. You will make a way because You said it is my time to be free from captivity in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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