I recently heard a story of some men who wanted to hunt and capture a bald eagle.
The first day, before dawn broke, they placed a fish upon a rock in the eagle's territory and moved far away to observe with their binoculars. They watched as the majestic bird circled and watched the fish, obviously uncomfortable with the feeling, but intrigued by the fish. He finally landed a little distance away and watched the fish through his keen eye, as well as observing the surroundings suspiciously. After a while the beautiful creature made its way close to the fish and began to feed. The hunters held their ground and only watched.
For an entire week, their strategy was the same. Only placing the fish where the eagle could see it and retreating to their hiding place to watch the goings on.
The second week began with them placing the fish on the rock, but adding a large net above. It was placed just high enough so that the eagle could walk beneath it and reach the fish without obstruction. This, the eagle did not like! Warily, he made his way toward the fish, knowing that something was definitely out of order, but loving the taste of the free meal.
At the end of the week, the hunters placed their fish upon the rock and tied their ropes to the net and moved away. When the eagle arrived that day, he walked under the net with no hesitation at all, and was surprised to hear the slithering sound of the snare falling into place around him.
Why did the hunters not put the snare in place earlier?
The eagle was much too wise to fall prey to this aggressive approach. However, it was the gradual dumbing down of his sense of survival that lefd him to walk knowingly under the snare.
He then had to pay The High Cost of Free Provision.
There are times when the enemy knows that he cannot deceive us with the aggressive approach, but if he can whet the appetite with provisions which must not be hunted, he can use them to entrap those with the strength to fly high above his snares.
There is a danger in partaking of free provision...
There are battles which the enemy will willingly surrender, so that we will become comfortable in an arena in which we were not designed to dwell.
27And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
32And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
33And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
34Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
Abner should have never advanced outside the gate of the the city of refuge, but because he was deceived by one who was a perceived friend, his death was that of a fool.
There are places, spirits, associations, and ministries that are placed into the lives of God's anointed that serve only to dumb down their senses of danger and their desire to hunt for themselves.
There are some things that can only be attained when we HUNT for ourselves.
Beware the free provisions, sometimes they cost much more than we would be willing to pay.
The first day, before dawn broke, they placed a fish upon a rock in the eagle's territory and moved far away to observe with their binoculars. They watched as the majestic bird circled and watched the fish, obviously uncomfortable with the feeling, but intrigued by the fish. He finally landed a little distance away and watched the fish through his keen eye, as well as observing the surroundings suspiciously. After a while the beautiful creature made its way close to the fish and began to feed. The hunters held their ground and only watched.
For an entire week, their strategy was the same. Only placing the fish where the eagle could see it and retreating to their hiding place to watch the goings on.
The second week began with them placing the fish on the rock, but adding a large net above. It was placed just high enough so that the eagle could walk beneath it and reach the fish without obstruction. This, the eagle did not like! Warily, he made his way toward the fish, knowing that something was definitely out of order, but loving the taste of the free meal.
At the end of the week, the hunters placed their fish upon the rock and tied their ropes to the net and moved away. When the eagle arrived that day, he walked under the net with no hesitation at all, and was surprised to hear the slithering sound of the snare falling into place around him.
Why did the hunters not put the snare in place earlier?
The eagle was much too wise to fall prey to this aggressive approach. However, it was the gradual dumbing down of his sense of survival that lefd him to walk knowingly under the snare.
He then had to pay The High Cost of Free Provision.
There are times when the enemy knows that he cannot deceive us with the aggressive approach, but if he can whet the appetite with provisions which must not be hunted, he can use them to entrap those with the strength to fly high above his snares.
There is a danger in partaking of free provision...
There are battles which the enemy will willingly surrender, so that we will become comfortable in an arena in which we were not designed to dwell.
27And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
32And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
33And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
34Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
Abner should have never advanced outside the gate of the the city of refuge, but because he was deceived by one who was a perceived friend, his death was that of a fool.
There are places, spirits, associations, and ministries that are placed into the lives of God's anointed that serve only to dumb down their senses of danger and their desire to hunt for themselves.
There are some things that can only be attained when we HUNT for ourselves.
Beware the free provisions, sometimes they cost much more than we would be willing to pay.
Beware the free provisions, sometimes they cost much more than we would be willing to pay.
1 comment:
Wonderful illustration!!!
Post a Comment