Deal With Your Herod - Part 2
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, "Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You." 32And He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.' (be perfected) Luke 13:31-32
The spirit of Herod is repressive and is a killer. In Mark 6:14-32 Herod took his brother’s wife. I suppose he was living not far from where his brother Phillip is, with his brother around him, took his wife and started living with her. He also took his brother’s daughter unto him. He silenced Phillip and possibly killed the man in him. This is degradation of the highest order, demeaning him. A man whose wife was taken cried after the wife….Micah, though not his wife, because she was David’s wife. (1 Samuel 25:44)
He said, “Good! I will make a covenant with you, but I demand one thing of you, namely, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul’s daughter, when you come to see me.” 14 So David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, to whom I was betrothed for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.” 15 Ish-bosheth sent and took her from her husband, from Paltiel the son of Laish. 16 But her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go, return.” So he returned. ); 2 Samuel 3:13-16
This man expressed his frustration, disappointment in tears, but we did not hear of Phillip expressing himself. It was Nobelaurate Professor Wole Soyinka that said ‘The man dies in him who keeps silent in the face of Tyranny and Oppression’. The man died in Phillip. That is the goal of Herod, to silence and to kill. He will not get you in Jesus name.
Whatever has been silencing or repressing you will loose its hold and you go free today in Jesus mighty name. Dr Martin Luther King also said a similar thing, paraphrased, our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter. Phillip was silent about his better half, his treasured possession – his wife and child. In whatever way the spirit of Herod has made you silent, you are set free today in Jesus name.
God said, open your mouth wide and I will fill it up. The Lord has anointed you to preach the word and to speak life. Your situation may make it appear as if you should be quiet, the Bible says shout to the Lord all the earth, (Psalm 98:4) Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Further, I will lift up my eyes to the hills from where my help comes from, my help comes from the Lord who made the heavens and the earth.
Cry to God against your Herod and He will hear you. Remember in Acts 12:21-23 the brethren prayed for Peter who was imprisoned by Herod, when Herod tried to silence Peter, after silencing James by killing him. What happened to Herod? Herod was eaten up by worms. His hell started here.
On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. 22 The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. TBSI Mark 9:41-48 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. 43 “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, 44 [where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] 45 “If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, 46 [where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] 47 “If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, 48 where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. – where the fire is not quenched and their worms die not.
Pray for every Herod you know so they do not go to hell.
Your Herod will speak about you. When Herod heard about Jesus and the miracles being performed, he said, it is John the Baptist, who I have beheaded. In Mark 6:14-16 the Bible says
And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” 15 But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”
Herod is the influential person or power who hears but does not believe, they hear and do not change their ways, they are told they are doing the wrong things, they keep listening, but do not repent and change their ways for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him (Mark 6:20). He was always listening to the truth from John the Baptist, was offended when John told him, taking your brother’s wife is evil, arrested John, would bring John from the prison, and say ‘tell me about God and righteousness’, but did not change because his conscience was seared with a hot iron. You are going to pray for every Herod in the land, that God will take away the stony heart and give them a heart of flesh, sprinkle them with clean water so they can be clean. That their hearts will be receptive to the word, the word preached will profit them. For every one in positions of power decreeing unrighteous decrees, that God will visit them, they would have no peace and no rest till they accept Jesus as Lord and change unrighteous laws into righteous ones.
Herod may send enemies to you to weaken your faith and resolve. Herod sent the familiar enemies, the Pharisees, to Jesus to threaten Him ‘ Herod will kill you’ they said to Jesus. But Jesus kept the faith - He did not waiver in His stance, preaching or healing. He focused on His ministry. I don’t know what discouraging news you have heard, strengthen your feeble knees and hands. Our God is a tower of strength and He will strengthen you. (as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.” 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS… (Romans 4:17-22). Against hope Abraham believed in hope that he may be the father of many nations, being not weak in faith, but strong, giving glory to God, because he saw the invincible. See beyond your current problems and challenges. Ezekiel was able to see beyond the dry bones, Jeremiah saw the rod of an almond tree. There is a greater glory ahead. Say ye to the righteous it shall be well with him. It shall be well with you, in Jesus name. Amen.
The friends of Herod are not your friend. Opposers will always send opposers, God will make you to know who is for you and who is against you; so you do not mistake a foe for a friend and rely on the foe. You may not rely or put your trust in a man how much more a foe. The heart of man is desperately wicked/deceitful above all else, who can know it/understand it (Jeremiah 17:9). The Bible states in Jeremiah 17:5 Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD. While Jeremiah 17:7-8 states Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose trust is the LORD. 8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit. …happy is the man, whose trust is in the Lord His God….
God will reveal your enemies to you, and those who may attack or harm you; God will shield you and cause you to prevail in Jesus name. God will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to gainsay or resist and an answer of peace that will silence all adversaries.
Be focused. Jesus said Tell that fox, I do cures today and tomorrow and on the third day I will be perfected. Jesus was saying, I will work the works of Him who has sent me while it is yet day, for the night comes when no man can work.
Why did Jesus call Herod a fox, these are the cunning, deceitful cheaters, grabbers of what is good. Herod’s brother may not have known in time he was scheming for his wife, otherwise he may have made a run for it with his family rather than allow someone disintegrate his family and reduce him to nothing. God will protect and shield you from foxes in Jesus name. Amen
A fox is a wild animal with a bushy tail; a carnivorous animal of the dog family that has a pointed muzzle, large ears, a long bushy tail, and usually reddish brown or gray fur. Foxes are found throughout most of the world and hunt alone, mainly at night, relying on cunning and an acute sense of hearing and smell. (Dictionary definition)
Being a fox is:
- to deceive or outwit somebody by means of sly trickery
- to confuse or baffle somebody
Jesus declared: My work is about healing and taking care of the sheep my Father has committed into my hands. No man can take the sheep out of my hands, I will take care of them until I die (perfected). I and my Father are one; whatever I commit unto the Father He is able to keep until that perfect day. My Father is greater than I and no man can pluck my sheep, my domain, my inheritance, what matters to me out of His hands. No matter what Herod does, it cannot reduce or defile the inheritance that is undefiled, reserved in heaven for us.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable (incorruptible) and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you (1 Pet 1:3-4).
Respond, don’t react. When John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin was beheaded by Herod, Jesus did not say anything to Herod, but went to seek Gods face.
Jesus responded to Herod, by responding to the Pharisees who came to deliver Herod’s message. In His response Jesus focused on His goal and ministry. He knew He was a light to the world and anyone who follows Him will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. Be focused, respond, don’t react. God will give you the grace in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Prayer:
1. Give Thanks
2. Father, disgrace every Herod around my life, family and ministry.
3. Herod will not be able to perform his plans concerning me and my family.
4. Lord, silence every Herod and be glorified in my life, family and ministry.
5. I will fulfill my calling, I will obtain my healing, deliverance and blessing; Herod you cannot discourage me.
6. I will be strong in faith, God will help me.
7. Be my shield O’ Lord
8. Father, give me wisdom and an answer of peace in every situation.
