1 John 4:4 
‘Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.’

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• DAILY READING  John 4:1-26; 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:6; Zechariah4
Something amazing was noticed in the aftermath of the Indonesian Tsunami.

In 2004, a 9.1 magnitude undersea earthquake, which became the third largest tremor ever recorded, caused a devastating tsunami that killed about 230,000 people across fourteen coastal countries. However, in the aftermath, rescuers noted a conspicuous absence of animal casualties. Whilst human casualties numbered in hundreds of thousands, many News outlets were baffled by the fact that there were hardly any animal casualties. Somehow it seemed that many animals had received prior warning which caused them to flee to higher grounds and thus escaped the tsunami. 

The Indo-Asian News service reported that buffaloes, goats and dogs were found unharmed, and that flamingoes that used to breed at that time of the year, flew to higher ground beforehand. Elephants giving rides to tourists began trumpeting before the tsunami struck, which was something they had never done before. Monkeys in the zoo, refused to take bananas from tourists, which was quite surprising; rather the monkeys kept staring up in a confused mode as if they were reacting to something .

The president of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society said that about an hour before the tsunami hit, people observed elephants running away from the beach, people saw bats flying away just before disaster struck. Others said dogs refused to go for their daily run on the beach.

However scientists explained the baffling phenomena by saying these animals escaped because they had keener senses and greater awareness of their surroundings. Unlike humans, animals  take a much greater interest in their environment and react quickly. When the sea receded in the minutes before the tsunami struck, animals must have taken notice and fled, while humans who were insensitive, had been caught unawares. 

In Mathew 16:3 Jesus scolded the Jews for their lack of spiritual sensitivity, He said ‘O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? ‘

Indeed we are living in a very crucial time on earth now. And for anyone who will survive in these perilous times, there is a great need for spiritual sensitivity . There is a rumble in the spirit, but only those who are sensitive can pick it up. There is a sound going forth throughout the earth, but only those who are alert can hear it. 

Spiritual things are very slippery and except you develop your sensitivity, you may not be able to grasp divine communications as they come. Every destiny therefore, without spiritual sensitivity is at risk. The sense of warning and restraint that the Spirit gives will be our compass and guiding light in these days. But the voice of the Spirit of God is so gentle that unless you are living in complete fellowship and oneness with God, you may not hear it. 

This is why we need to develop greater intimacy with God, we need to move up to a higher ground in our walk with God. In Exodus 33, God called up Moses alone to Mount Sinai to a place of intimacy and fellowship; and here he saw the glory of God revealed. In the same way for us to see the coming glory, we must separate ourselves, and move up to a higher ground, to a place of personal devotion to God. Spiritually, a higher ground is a place of higher calling.  It is a place of deeper fellowship and intimacy. It is a place where God must have the right of way in our lives, where we live in obedience and are willing to lay down whatever He requires of us.

Getting unto the higher ground can be lonely, it is a place where you have separated yourself unto God. It is the strait and narrow way, where you are walking contrary to the ways of the crowd on the broad way.  But it is also the only place of safety and security from the storms and floods of life. 

In the world the enemy is releasing floods and tsunamis of wickedness. And the only way to escape, is to rise to a higher ground of holiness in our walk with God. 

1 John 5:19 says, ‘And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness..’.  To reign in the midst of such wickedness, we must be spiritually fervent. Though the world may be growing darker, when your spirit is on fire, you can walk safe and live victorious. 

Indeed this is our year of eagle’s flight and greater heights. It is a year of overflow and a year of signs and wonders. It is our year of victory and supernatural change of story.  And we will overcome because of God’s indwelling Presence. 

 1 John 4:4 says ‘Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.’

Indeed as we draw closer to God in the higher place of intimacy and deeper fellowship, we will be empowered to overcome the world. 

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to draw closer to You always. Help me to pay the required price in prayer and study of The Word, to rise to the place of intimacy and fellowship with You in Jesus Name. .   

QUOTE 

When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction.
 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]