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Covenant Diaries Season 1 Episode 10| Little Foxes 3
23 Plays9 months ago
Part 3
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Transcript
Season Finale Announcement
00:00:01
CODES
Hi guys, how you all doing? Welcome to our another episode. would say this would be the final episode for season one.
00:00:12
CODES
my gosh, I cannot believe that we have recorded to 10 episodes. Well, guys, if if you're not all caught up to our episodes, our interesting episodes, and the ones where we had invited some guest speakers, please follow us on YouTube and on our Instagram as well to catch up or follow the link in the bio in our Instagram page to catch up with our latest episode.
00:00:36
CODES
But guys, I cannot believe it. We're literally at the end, the finale of the season. The next season. It's going to be amazing. Like we have a lot to unpack for season two.
00:00:51
CODES
I don't think you guys are ready.
00:00:54
CODES
Oh, by the way, thank you for joining me today. Sis.
00:01:00
CODES
Becca. Really?
00:01:04
CODES
I feel like Becky is literally at this point, she's literally over me, right? She's literally done with me at this point. Yeah, but we made it we through 10 episodes.
00:01:16
CODES
anyways, I'm so glad that you're here with me on our final episode.
00:01:23
CODES
Well, grateful to God for that. Yeah. But yeah, guys, um we're not going to work.
Meaningful Discussion on Faith
00:01:28
CODES
Okay. Let me not jinx it. I'll just go with the flow. Because every time that I say that we're not going to take too long, we end up recording like for an hour. Because when we start talking, we just get carried away and then we just don't end.
00:01:41
CODES
But we're going to go with the flow and see where the Lord leads. But thank you again for joining us. And we hope that what we're going to talk about today which is really, really crucial and important in our walk
Visions of Heaven and Hell
00:01:55
CODES
with God. I hope that it blesses your heart.
00:01:58
CODES
But anyways, I'm going to cut down to the chase. I know recent, I think, I don't know was, Becca, you the one who sent me a video of some person who was saying that they had a ah vision, a revelation of hell and heaven and all of that?
00:02:17
CODES
I have a reason why I'm bringing this in, but, she had mentioned that she saw this video of a lady who was explaining her encounter, about heaven hell, according to her, that was revealed to her. I'm not there in her encounter, but what drew my attention is, I guess the reaction of a lot of people to that video or to that,
00:02:46
CODES
revelation whatsoever but I find it really interesting it's something that really baffles me a lot when people stuff like that it creates different kinds of reaction one some people are like oh well I'm glad that at least I'm I know for a fact that I'm making the right decision because I have a relationship with God and whenever God comes by His grace, I'll be ready for him.
00:03:15
CODES
And then there's another category of people who are receiving it in shock or unprepared because they feel that they're not ready for Christ coming or returning based on the revelation that the person had.
Salvation and Grace
00:03:28
CODES
And then there's, and then there's this part of them also that is triggered by a fear response because they don't want to go to hell. So out of that fear and reverence for God, they surrender their life or like they, they kind of like work fixing parts of their life that are not in line with God's will.
00:03:53
CODES
And then the third category of people, which is completely hilarious, is just people who were really indifferent, like don't really care or they're really angry because in their mind, they're like, oh, why would God send people to hell? or Why would God select the select people to heaven and throw some people in hell, like all this nonsense thing that they're contriving in their mind. But that's not what I'm here to debunk or, or focus on.
00:04:21
CODES
But my thing is that particular color category category of people who feel that when they hear messages like that, it triggers a fear response.
00:04:32
CODES
I wanted to, I want to address something in that aspect. I kind of understand where you're coming from and I know what that could feel like.
00:04:44
CODES
But the reason I brought that up is that probably reason why people might feel that way, that they're not ready or they don't feel ready for Christ coming, is probably that sense of feeling like they're not adequate enough to be in heaven or they're not qualified to be raptured by God or they feel like they're not living a straightforward life.
00:05:15
CODES
Well, one thing know for sure the word... God's divine revelation from his word is that salvation is by grace through faith.
00:05:26
CODES
There is nothing that we could ever do or have ever done that would be worthy enough to merit heaven. Rather, our making heaven or being with God for eternity is based on the grace of God through faith in him.
00:05:49
CODES
It's not based on our righteousness. It's not based on how much we've gone to church. It's not based on how much good works we've done. It's not based on how much good things that we've done in this life. But it's on the basis of the grace and mercy of God through faith in him.
00:06:05
CODES
Because there are people who would feel like they've done so much good or they've done so much stuff to boost up their moral GPA. But before God, it's literally like a piece of...
00:06:17
CODES
filth and trash. It's like filthy rags. It does not compare. It does not qualify them to be in heaven. But see relationship with God to be
00:06:32
CODES
a daily in the moment thing. It's not something that is based on, oh, your overall performance so far. Like, oh, for example, I gave my life to Christ in so-and-so time. So from then to now, now, ah leastsh at least I should have averaged up my goodness or like worthiness of heaven. No, it's a momentary thing.
00:06:58
CODES
day to day you're living that life second to second you're walking in obedience in relationship with God because that part of you feeling like you need to do something to earn heaven or to end God's love it's that religious work and that's not what Christ came to die for Christ came to die for people who cannot help themselves who unworthy of His love who cannot earn His love by their good works.
00:07:31
CODES
That's why He came to die. If we can earn His love or heaven by good works, then the purpose of Christ coming, it's completely useless. But He came because we're not able to redeem ourselves. We're not able to do anything to earn that love from Him
00:07:44
CODES
So that is why He came to die and resurrected to give us power and reconcile us back to Him because of sin that separated us from Him the since the time of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden.
00:07:59
CODES
So when Christ redeems us, We confess our sins to him. He forgives us of our sins and reconciles us to himself.
00:08:10
CODES
From that moment, it's a relational walk with Him So a walk with God should be a a function of His grace and His love and His mercy. Right?
00:08:21
CODES
And a relationship and devotion to Him should come from a place of love and not a place of, yes, is a place for godly fear, having reverence and having honor for God. But it shouldn't come from place that all...
00:08:36
CODES
because I don't want to go to hell, then I want to, you know, there's a point in your relationship with God where you want to be in that relationship with God just because God is God. God is good.
00:08:48
CODES
He is love and He's just a good father. It's not on the basis of you wanting to do stuff just because you are avoiding punishment. Yes, that is a given because sin leads to death.
00:09:02
CODES
That is a given. But there's a moment in your relationship with God. There's a stage in your relationship with God where you just want to live for God because He is just so good to you.
00:09:14
CODES
Like he is just kind. He's just sweet. And he's so loving. Now, the whole point of me saying this is that while we're, while the priority of a Christian walk is building that relationship with God and having like,
00:09:32
CODES
that deep in in intimate relationship with him. there are things, well, some people might be like, oh, I get it that we have to have that relationship with God and we don't have to fear anything because of the love of God.
00:09:46
CODES
But I find myself not walking with God consistently because there's little things that just keeps making me fall back into sin or things that just keeps making me pull away from Him Like, I don't know what it is and I cannot control it.
00:10:03
CODES
My spirit wants to do his will. My, my, my, my heart wants to serve him, but there are just things that I cannot control that just happens that pushes me away.
The 'Little Foxes' Metaphor
00:10:13
CODES
And then I feel so much guilt.
00:10:16
CODES
Some people are probably thinking that right now. Like I feel so much guilt. Like it feels like it's so impossible to go back to Him again because of the sin that I committed. The beautiful thing about that is that we serve a God that is very merciful.
00:10:33
CODES
The point of us confessing our sins to Him and seeking forgiveness and repenting from it shouldn't be
00:10:42
CODES
Like we shouldn't sin because we know that God will forgive, but
00:10:49
CODES
our repentance should come from a place of genuineness and willingness not to return back to the sin and looking towards God, who is the author and finisher of her faith. So to empower us with the grace to stay pure and holy before him and not falling back to that sin.
00:11:08
CODES
Now back what I was mentioning with little things that always hurt our relationship with God or kind of like ruin our relationship with God is something read from the Bible.
00:11:23
CODES
Bible describes it little foxes. Now, if we go book of Songs of Solomon, chapter two, verses...
00:11:37
CODES
15 right it says that it says catch us the foxes the little foxes the spoil the vines for our vines have tender grapes now while reading commentary on this which makes a whole lot sense to me here Solomon was describing that there, the little foxes here and this scripture is like an example of kinds of problems that can impede or ruin a relationship, right?
00:12:17
CODES
So in this context, the young women of Jerusalem wanted anything that could potentially cause problems between the lovers to be removed, right? So Relating that in our relationship with God, oftentimes those little foxes, because the little foxes in that context of the Bible would like go and nibble on the grapes and eventually like destroying the whole fruit and like the the vines and all of that.
00:12:46
CODES
And which eventually would completely ruin the whole vineyard plantation of grapes or whatever it's called. So removing that little of foxes would allow the grapes to grow, would allow the vine to be healthy. And there is no destruction. There is nothing that would interrupt the flow of nutrients through vine into the grapes. And it would just overall
00:13:22
CODES
kid
00:13:25
CODES
could imply different things that could obstruct or cause limitations in our growth in God or in our relationship with God.
00:13:38
CODES
Also, oftentimes, like this little foxes, they cause big problems in marriages, in our relationship with other people, in our relationship with people that we work with, our friends, our professional relationships relationships or business partnerships.
00:13:55
CODES
And these irritations... should not be minimized or ignored they're so subtle they're like those simple things i don't think if guys have heard that it's so common that people say that most times it's not usually the big problems that causes issues in marriage but it's like the subtle simple things that people normally overlook those things are what the bible refers to as little foxes you see them they're so little even though that is termed a little of foxes a fox is a fox a fox is a destructive animal
00:14:28
CODES
It's just like saying little snake is not dangerous. It is dangerous because as long as that little snake has venom, it still has that DNA of a snake nature.
00:14:40
CODES
It has that snake DNA in it that it could harm and poison or put its venom on someone. Just similar to a fox. A fox is dangerous. So...
00:14:51
CODES
Even a little fox is as dangerous as a fox but because already has that DNA of destruction inside of it as a fox that it is. So sometimes we see that because problems are big, we kind of like, be be but we have that natural inclination to fight or build up coping strategies to overcome big problems. But when there are so little and so insignificant,
00:15:22
CODES
It's so hard to face that or challenge that because we often like brush it down the carpet. Like it's nothing. It's not that serious because it doesn't pose a significant threat at that moment.
00:15:35
CODES
We just overlook it. But the more we overlook little simple things like that, that could lead to bigger issues, the more they keep piling up and eventually it could become really explosive and become very detrimental to our relationship with God.
Spiritual Disconnection and Vigilance
00:15:52
CODES
So we can't just ignore those little simple things and or minimize them, but rather we should identify those little cracks in our relationship with God that opens door to bigger problems that open doors to things, bigger, bigger mishaps that could ruin our relationship with God or could pull push us farther away from God.
00:16:20
CODES
Now,
00:16:21
CODES
um
00:16:22
CODES
there's other aspects in the scripture that I read. There is the grapes and there is the vines. I see, to me, I see the vines as more of representing, I know the scripture refers to Jesus as the true vine, right?
00:16:39
CODES
ah ah vine in this context would represent a relationship with God or a spiritual growth or a potential in the ministry. And obviously had explained the little foxes and how they can, you know, be subtle threats and all of that.
00:17:02
CODES
if we allow little things that we do not pay attention to, to build up over time. Eventually, it's going to clog us from being fruitful in our walk with God.
00:17:15
CODES
Because if we let things into our relationship with God, if we overlook things that are choking on our relationship with God, over time that we keep ignoring these things is going to completely block that connection with God.
00:17:31
CODES
Meaning that, you know, that the vine connects nutrients, takes in nutrients from, from the root, from the root, the ground, the nutrients into, into the fruits and into, into the leaves and spreads everything around.
00:17:43
CODES
So if something is choking or damaging that vine itself, no nutrients will flow through. So if we constantly allow thorns and things or like little foxes to choke or bite on that vine, that relationship with God, if we keep harboring things, resentment in our hearts,
00:18:05
CODES
irritation in our hearts, lust in our heart, all those little things, honesty, even loquemness in our heart or relationship with God, over time, it's going to completely block us from being receptive to God.
00:18:20
CODES
That's why sometimes people feel like they say that, oh, I feel like I'm going through like a spiritual drought. I feel like I cannot hear God. I feel like I i don't feel God anymore.
00:18:34
CODES
While our relationship with God is not based on feeling, there are times that God is present, but we don't necessarily feel it because God wants us to move from the feeling stage to faith in Him and knowing that he's just there.
00:18:48
CODES
But there are times that that lack of sensitivity to God is also based on us letting things over time accumulate that has been weakening and dampening our sensitivity to God.
00:19:03
CODES
We've let little foxes in that have choked and bite on that vine, that relationship with God. And over time, you feel like in your ministry that you're being called to, you're no longer effective. You feel like it's becoming more hard to do simple things that you normally would do in the ministry.
00:19:24
CODES
You feel like you're not that prophetic gifting that you once had. You feel it fading away gradually.
00:19:33
CODES
Sometimes it it it's really safer for us to really identify that beginning triggers, that beginning stages where things are looking like
00:19:44
CODES
it might seem at that point that it's not really serious. Oh, it's just a little of dishonesty. It wouldn't hurt anything. You let it go and shove it down the carpet.
00:19:56
CODES
Another one happens. Oh, it's just literal. It's fine. It's nothing. It's not a big deal. But over time, when you begin to let things slide, it becomes part of your habit.
00:20:07
CODES
It forms into a habit. It forms into a character. Eventually you start becoming that thing that you did not pay attention to stop. So over time, you don't realize that, oh, you no longer have an interest to read the word of God.
00:20:22
CODES
You no longer have an interest to go to church because, Online service is available, so I don't really have to go to church physically. But you also forget in that scripture says that we should not neglect the assembling of the brethren
00:20:38
CODES
The primary goal of us fellowshipping in church is that we will identify one another and be energized through the corporate anointing and like the fellowship and the presence of God there.
00:20:49
CODES
You don't get that when you're in online service. I'm not saying that online service is wrong. But if you really obviously cannot make it due to distance or something detrimental or like an emergency, it's understandable. But if it's become a pattern for you because you're reluctant to go to church or you don't want to talk to people or you just want to practice in your mind, you think that you're the most holiest person and going to church, you think church is filled with a lot of hypocrites.
00:21:18
CODES
And you don't want to go to church because it's just like saying you don't want to go to the hospital because the hospital is filled with sick people. So how else are you going to get treated?
00:21:29
CODES
How else are you really going to recover or get medications if you do not go to the hospital for your problems to be diagnosed? How is that going to happen?
00:21:40
CODES
So when you start bringing up those little excuses that acts like a little foxes, oh, it's just, I feel a headache this morning. I really don't feel like going to church. Maybe going to go next week.
00:21:52
CODES
Next week comes, the devil saw that you bought into those errors that he shot at you to make you not go to church. Guess what? He's going to double it times two. I got her to flick going to church just by this little slight headache. Maybe I should double it so she would not have to go anymore. He would not have to go anymore.
00:22:13
CODES
Next Sunday comes, you think that you're going to go and then you start feeling a slight back pain in addition to a headache. Like, oh, I can't, I don't think I can make it to church because I have a backache.
00:22:24
CODES
If you're not going to make that conscious effort,
00:22:29
CODES
intentionality to show up in your relationship with God, the devil is going to keep giving you reasons not to.
Faith Over Feelings
00:22:36
CODES
If you're constantly using the e e excuses that he's feeding you and allowing and accepting everything, every obstacle that he's throwing you away to prevent you from going farther with God.
00:22:49
CODES
If you're going to keep accepting that, you will keep sending more and you will not over time, you're going to lose that power and that strength and that grace to be able to fight back. But yeah, that's my side of it.
00:23:03
CODES
But I also was going
00:23:09
CODES
bring up a few questions that I had unseen and seen. I think it's really important. But before that, Becca, what would you really think is like when people feel when sense drought in their relationship with God is it easy to discern that sense drought that is as a result of people letting in those little foxes over a long time
00:23:37
CODES
Or just that God is just disciplining them to like train them to like trust him? Like sometimes I wonder how do we decipher when God is disciplining us and, and we don't feel that sensitivity towards God or like we don't feel Him there or like when,
00:23:58
CODES
I don't know. I really don't know explain it, but you get what I mean, right? Yeah. Sometimes people just say, Oh, I don't feel God's presence anymore. get that.
00:24:08
CODES
Sometimes God doesn't want us to always feel or base or our, our relationship with Him based on feeling, but sometimes it could be an indication that, Oh, you're really walking afar from God and you really need to go closer.
00:24:26
CODES
You're asking the question and you're answering it. Okay. I don't know. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but yeah, guys, this is just a question that I've been pondering in my mind. And I, I kind of like wanted to hear another opinion on it.
00:24:42
CODES
I mean, there's a lot of, there's a lot of factors that can be, that can be accounted for. I mean, First off, if you have a a very vibrant and consistent relationship with God, I mean, as you're walking with God, God can gradually, you know, specifically list or start showing you or you're becoming more aware of all these certain behaviors, certain characteristics that does not reflect His own nature.
00:25:16
CODES
and it's almost like you have this aha moment, like, oh my gosh, I can't believe I did that. I can't believe i i I've been doing that, right? That's when you're having that consistent relationship with God.
00:25:29
CODES
And again, most times it could be some...
00:25:34
CODES
it can also be, yeah, people are going to be like, oh my gosh, how, there's no way, but sometimes demonic entities also, you know, block us off from even hearing or, you know,
00:25:48
CODES
seeing the way God wants us to see things. That's true. Right? They completely block things because they know that if, yeah, they know that if you know, then your freedom comes.
00:26:00
CODES
So they rather make sure that they keep you in perpetual darkness. In that bondage. In that bondage. So you don't know. So you can't see. You can't hear. And I'll use me for, for, as, I mean, as an example, I remember when I think there was a, there was a last week or two weeks ago that I was, I was fasting.
00:26:20
CODES
I fasted. was dry fasting on Saturday. i didn't drink water, i i didn't eat until like the following day Sunday. So, and while we're sitting in church, he almost felt, he he he literally felt like I was very, very disconnected.
00:26:34
CODES
Like I, I didn't feel like I felt God's presence. And then I went to sing. Even while I was singing, was like, why am I? Even as and in my head, I'm having a conversation like, what is going on with me? Like, I don't feel the presence of God. Like when we're doing worship. Yeah. Like, I don't feel the presence of God. Like, what is going on with you, Rebecca?
00:26:56
CODES
Yeah. So un un when I was done singing, i went and sat and I pondered about it. And then it just dawned on me. Right. I mean, it's not by my own power or or by my own making that I was able to realize that, you know, that was the way of God telling me that you don't rely on your fasting.
00:27:14
CODES
Fasting only draws you closer to him. need to learn to have faith and not in the feelings. So I was relying on fasting. I even brought that to dad. Dad said, well, that's right.
00:27:27
CODES
You do not rely on the fasting. Oh my God. Yes. Faith in God is what you rely on which is why, because I was fasting, i was was thinking, okay, you know, in my fasting, that this is how going to be feeling. I'm going to hear God, but no, it doesn't matter if you're fasting or not fasting. Like as long as your heart is right and you have faith again,
00:27:49
CODES
That's where, I think that's the mistake I made. I relied so much on the feelings surrounding the fasting because in my head, I always have this um notion that when you're fasting, you know, God speaks to you. God does this. God, not understanding the fasting is what draws us closer to God. And the goal of the fasting is not to rely so much on your feeling is to rely on God is to have faith in him.
00:28:11
CODES
But I relied so much on the feelings and like, because in my head, I'm like, Oh, you know, when I'm fasting, I'm going to be on fire. But That's not how it works. You know, this is legit confirmation to what I was experiencing couple of days ago.
00:28:23
CODES
Oh, really? I'm so glad that you mentioned this because exactly what you were experiencing, I was experiencing it in a different way. I was driving home from work one time. don't know was couple weeks ago.
00:28:35
CODES
And there's something I'm currently waiting on God for. And I was like saying to myself, okay, since the theme of this month in our church is like, we're waiting on God for divine visitation, right?
00:28:49
CODES
So in my mind, I'm like, I have to literally pull all nighters, like praying and like waiting on God so that this thing would come fast, come to pass real fast.
00:29:01
CODES
So while I was driving and meditating on that in my heart, It's like I heard this voice saying, you know, you know that you're, you trying to do that is not, is not going to be the reason why I'm going to bless you with what I'm going to bless you with, right?
00:29:19
CODES
You pulling an all-nighter, why that is good. Don't get us wrong. Fasting is good. And staying up, staying up during the night to like, or, Taking a time during the midnight to like pray and like renew your relationship with God and coming with God intimately.
00:29:35
CODES
There's nothing wrong with that. But the motive of which i was trying to do that was what God was trying to Bring to my awareness that listen, my dear, why you're doing this is
Challenges in Spiritual Life
00:29:51
CODES
okay. You can do it if you want to do it, but I'm not going to bless you because you pulling all-nighter, praying, because I want you to see that my blessing that I'm going to bless you with is because I'm a merciful. That's just my nature.
00:30:07
CODES
And that's because you are my daughter and I'm going to give you this because that's what, that's what I'm going to give you. It's not about you. It's about the calling that I have for you. And me blessing you with this is based on the calling that I have for you, the assignment that I have for you, not because that you're praying and you're fasting for this particular little little thing.
00:30:26
CODES
And it's going to happen in such a simple way that would not include your effort. So you know that it's me. Yeah. Because was like, whoa, what was that? Yeah, because a lot of that, a very, I mean, it makes a lot of sense, right? A lot of times when people are fasting, they feel, okay, because I prayed so much in my fasting, that's why God answered.
00:30:49
CODES
Not knowing that God can answer anytime, right? Even with just praying a 20-minute prayer, God can just get it done, right? It's not so much of how long or, I mean, the fasting is good. It only draws us closer to God, right? But you don't get to tell God when he wants to bless you.
00:31:04
CODES
That's true. I mean, I've seen people who probably prayed, I mean, not seen, but heard people whose testimonies of people who's, you know, prayed for two months. I had somebody, somebody's story that just prayed today for, you know, meeting a life partner and then the following day they met the person.
00:31:21
CODES
you think it's how long they prayed? No. Or should they pray? It's just the mercy of God. It's the mercy of God. And that is what I had to learn in a very hard way. It's funny how he'd be teaching us straight lessons in a different way. I honestly didn't even know because, you know, and sometimes like the spirit will just prompt me to like fast and I wouldn't even feel like the desire to want to eat food.
00:31:44
CODES
And maybe that's when, that's truly when God actually like wants to do something. Yeah. right without me having to force it or you know without me having to force it it just it just comes and there's just that prompting all there are times where i want to fast and the spirit just gives me grace to keep going and i'm not forcing it i'm not saying you know i'm weak there's no weakness if it's something god is prompting you you won't even feel any weakness there will be grace there be grace capacity to be so much effort yeah forcing yourself to do it or like
00:32:15
CODES
And that day, to be honest with you, I did force myself. Like I tried to deny, well, yes, that was a part of me denying self gratification and denying myself. then there'll be grace to do it. Yeah. But then struggled. I'm going to tell you, I did struggle. Oh my gosh. The temptation of wanting to eat so bad, like the thoughts were there, you know,
00:32:34
CODES
I'm not lying. Like the thoughts were there, wanted to eat so bad. But if it's something that, let's say that you were praying in like a week ahead and say, God, please, I need grace because I want to seek your face.
00:32:45
CODES
And God sees the motive of your heart. Like even before that day comes to eat, it gives you a different kind of grace that you wouldn't even, like that week you might be eating so less, you wouldn't even eat a lot of food.
00:32:56
CODES
You wouldn't have the desire to even want to eat so much food. And then when gets to the day that you actually want to do the fasting, gives you grace. You wouldn't think about food. have that capacity to keep going.
00:33:06
CODES
And yes, and a lot of times, I think I've talked about you demonic spirits or, um yes, demons impeding people from not seeing those things. And also, most times, people let things just, like you said, slide. Or people...
00:33:23
CODES
know what I've come to understand? Sometimes, a lot of times, we might not even know how these things, this behavior creeps in. Yes.
00:33:33
CODES
And the reason most times is that we lack knowledge. You know, it says that my people perish for lack of knowledge. Sometimes we're very ignorant, right? It only takes the light of God to shine on that particular kind of behavior or character and gives you that, like, oh, wow.
00:33:49
CODES
This has been my issue. You might look at it and you don't even see a problem with it. But how would you know that's wrong if you're not in the presence of God to know an studying the word of God for yourself? That's what I'm saying. will be like be like saying, like don't want to go to church anything.
00:34:02
CODES
How would you know the right behavior? How would you know the right thing to do if you're not in that corporate presence of God with other people and seeing their lifestyle and knowing that, oh, there are some people who have been way advanced in their walk with God in church that you can learn from that you can you can't see all of that from online again i'm not dissing online worshipers okay that's not the point here i'm just saying your motive of the reason or the reason why you're choosing not to be in church to fellowship to see these things for your eyes to be open to this little of foxes that you could merely ignore if you're not there to see people living the life the right way you know
00:34:41
CODES
Yeah. And sometimes people are, listen, the little foxes make sense because that's how cunning and crafted the devil is. You know, it's like a whole fantasy world that people live in and they feel like because I'm dwelling in this fantasy world, you know, I'm still going to make heaven.
00:34:59
CODES
Right. And the enemy puts them in in that place. So they can't really see that what they're doing is wrong. They just keep feeding their flesh, keep feeding their flesh, keep feeding their flesh, keep feeding their flesh. And they get distracted and they don't understand that God is a very holy God.
00:35:15
CODES
He's a righteous God. And it's not going to, you know, take you through the back corner to let you into heaven. No. That's why every day I'm constantly by the grace of God. I'm asking God, like anything that does not reflect you, reflect your nature, please bring it to my conscious awareness.
00:35:32
CODES
Because I might be doing things thinking that is right in my eyes, but wrong in your sight. Right. am might be ignorant of my behaviors or some characteristics that um I might think that it's OK, but it's completely wrong.
00:35:43
CODES
Holy Spirit, you know, bring it to my awareness. Right. Don't allow my ignorance put me in a trap, in a perpetual cycle that I have to keep repeating the same thing over and over again.
00:35:55
CODES
But again, which is why said in the first time, if you are if you have an active life lifestyle, right, the goal is to be vigilant. Right. Right? To watch out for the foxes
00:36:06
CODES
The consistent relationship you have with God makes you spiritually active. That you begin to recognize some of these character defects that you deal with. This Adamic nature that you deal with that needs to die completely.
00:36:22
CODES
But when you're not in an intimacy or in an active relationship with God, how would you expect to see your distance? Right. And it's not some of us that hear God's voices. Let me tell you, the last time I heard God's voice was probably in 2020.
00:36:36
CODES
Was it 2020 2021? When I gave my life to Christ. but you're over exaggerating in that but i do i do get but audible voice that i'm talking about but i do get some prompting by the holy spirit yeah like i remember the other day that i was i i i was i was praying and i got up in the morning like very early in the morning like deeper like probably one or two something in the morning and i was very anxious very very anxious i'm like how am i gonna pray like very anxious and terrified i don't know why
00:37:04
CODES
But as soon as I sat down, you know, and God saw how anxious I was. He prompted me to start singing a song. And when I started singing that song, all of a sudden the atmosphere changed.
00:37:16
CODES
And that anxiety just left me. might not hear the audible voice. think a lot folks are just so stuck on wanting to hear that audible voice Well, I do. You don't know how desperate I want to hear the audible. Are you kidding me? I don't care what anybody says. I do so bad.
00:37:31
CODES
I want to hear the audible voice of God. God sometimes is just that simple father. Sometimes he can be very extra like dramatic in his expression of his power. like i mean i wouldn't say dramatic because i mean he is the extra extra power okay like he doesn't need to do much to like be much if that makes sense he doesn't need to do much to be much i don't know but
Faith, Obedience, and Doubt
00:37:54
CODES
yeah i should probably make that a slogan he doesn't need to do much to be much let me stop so funny
00:38:02
CODES
Listen, I'm literally getting it to do some merch. But if if we do a merch with Covenant Diaries, guys, would you guys buy it? like Yeah, we definitely, for sure.
00:38:11
CODES
Anyways, I digress. But yeah, he doesn't need to do much to be much, if that makes sense. But sometimes it's just, he just, cause got the whole point of our walkway. He just wants that relationship with us.
00:38:27
CODES
That's the exact same thing that was broken in the garden of Eden. That's the core reason why Jesus Christ came to die, to bring us back to the way it was. That Edenic righteousness, that righteousness that was there before the fall of Adam and Eve, that is the whole core reason why God came to die for us, to reconcile us back, to bring us to where we all left off at, where Adam and Eve left off at with Him when they sinned.
00:38:53
CODES
Because sin was the thing that... broke that relationship with God and that's the very very very thing that he wants to bring back again that intimacy and when you mentioned that part of ignorance right I like that you mentioned that because a lot of times when we do stuff or when we are not very sensitive to things like that.
00:39:18
CODES
It is because we probably do not know. And how would we know if we do not bring ourself to a place or an environment where we can be nurtured or surrender or place of surrender or willing?
00:39:31
CODES
Cause one thing is to be in that environment too that actually preaches the truth. But the other thing is actually opening up yourself to be willing to be changed and yielding to that truth in that environment.
00:39:42
CODES
Because people might say like, oh, I go to the church that I go to preach is the raw truth. But you see them, their life is no different. You can be in the most holiest church and not be transformed.
00:39:55
CODES
And if I may interject,
00:40:00
CODES
As you begin to grow in your relationship with God and begin to mature, God starts moving you from a place of feelings to a place of faith because feelings is subjective, right?
00:40:13
CODES
And when he starts moving you to a place of faith, mean, look at the life of Abraham. life of Abraham just consisted of so much faith. Like I think in Hebrews 11, verse 8, they said, oh oh Abraham obeyed and went even though he didn't even know where he was going to. Yeah. So the goal is to obey and follow.
00:40:30
CODES
Right? But it's not easy. I'm going to tell you, we're very stubborn. Stiff neck. Word. It's like, you know how goats are stubborn?
00:40:41
CODES
Like when you want to pull them to your side, they just don't want to. Like, no, don't force me. But when you give them food, now that's a trap.
00:40:50
CODES
They come to you. But we don't want to be like goats. We want to be like sheep, very yielding. It's so important that mention that because the Lord describes his people as the sheep. If you listen to God, you're his sheep.
00:41:03
CODES
But if you don't, the opposite of that is a goat. You want to be goats, right? You want to be a sheep. What I've come to understand is the overall goal of a relationship with God is obedience.
00:41:15
CODES
who you'll be without questioning. And that's, that's really what I constantly ask God for giving me the grace to yield, to to yield myself completely, like fully surrender, right? Without asking questions, just take me, right? You're the driver, steer the wheels to wherever you want. I just want to keep obeying, give me grace to come to complete full surrender where I don't have to question my feelings or object to something that you're asking me to, because, you I don't even know. Like, yes, my self-doubt will come in and say, God, like, I know what you're about to do. What if what you're doing not done are great?
00:41:52
CODES
You know, what if what you're doing is probably going to backfire at me? Like, then you leave me, then I'm stranded. I don't know what to do with my life, but it says, follow me. Isn't that what he told Peter? And I'll make you fishers of men.
00:42:05
CODES
I mean, take a look at the story of when Christ told Peter to come on the water. I was about to bring that Instead of looking onto Jesus.
00:42:16
CODES
not not Going back to what you said before of that uncertainty of, oh, if God starts with you and then probably leave you halfway. Mm-hmm. And you bringing up that story of Peter, that is a clear indication that God does not leave us. We are the ones who leave Him Of course. Because we take our eyes away from him and we're looking at our strength. When we take our eyes away from Him and I'm looking at what our strength can do or feeling like, oh, what if, because we're seeing God in the lenses of man's weakness. Yep.
00:42:54
CODES
But we're not remembering or knowing that God is God. God is not man. So you measuring God's faithfulness based on own limitation, that's going to make you start sinking like Peter did. He took his gaze off of Jesus Christ and he started to sink. Mm-hmm.
00:43:12
CODES
Doubts came in. Yeah, doubts came in because you started, you're starting to analyze human limitations or what if, what if. You're bringing in what ifs. You're not staying on the God said, God is. You're not looking at the God is factor. You're starting to analyze and like embrace all the what ifs that the enemy is feeding to your mind.
00:43:35
CODES
And that's what happens when we're when we're too nonchalant in our walk with God that we're not looking straight to God, but then we're letting what ifs. What ifs also, it's like a little foxes.
00:43:51
CODES
We might see it as just common human ration, we call it rationality, being rational. But human rationality and and God's way is not its opposite.
00:44:02
CODES
You don't bring in rationality in your walk with God because rationality, is the opposite of God's own way. If you rationalize things, scripture says that we should not lean on our own understanding.
00:44:15
CODES
So even you rationalizing things and thinking that it makes sense, it could lead to destruction because that's what the scripture says. God knows the end from the beginning. So that what ifs that you're bringing in into your walk with God or entertaining your thought in your mind, and it has become a pattern that every time God tells you to do something, your if this happens? What if that happened? what That itself is a load foxes because you're breeding doubt in your heart.
00:44:41
CODES
And guess what? When you start breeding doubt in your heart and you start drowning eventually it would lead to disobedience because when you have... set a tent, a room, you've built a room, open open a door and and a room for that what ifs. And that what ifs has expanded into a house and is expanded into a a mansion, like 10 bedroom. You've given it like 10 bedroom apartments and everything. And then it's become a mansion in itself.
00:45:09
CODES
So by the time you're faced with the will of God, that what ifs that has become a mountain, it That what ifs has become a mountain that has to be destroyed, completely broken for you to actually see the will of God.
00:45:25
CODES
So that's literally when we entertain a lot of what ifs and it becomes a a pattern of doubt in our heart. If there's anything God hates is doubt. Because doubt is like when you're doubting His will and you're doubting His way, you're literally telling Him to the face that can't do anything.
00:45:42
CODES
You're questioning His sovereignty and you're literally minimizing His Godhood don't know if that makes sense. Yep.
00:45:52
CODES
But yeah, those are little foxes that can hamper a relationship with God. And over time, when you keep entertaining that what ifs, God does not wrestle with man.
00:46:03
CODES
If the Holy sp Spirit has prompted you a couple of times and you're allowing what ifs to like ruin your or define your walk with Him eventually He will pull back in or tell you nothing. He's like, do whatever you want.
00:46:14
CODES
I'm showing you the way. I want to spoil you and I don want want to love you, but you're not letting me love you the way I want to love you. So do what you want. But at last, you want to come back running.
00:46:26
CODES
And I pray that God doesn't let us come to that point of being on our knees and running back to Him because that part doesn't ever look pretty. And I probably never get to that point. So that's why we start to get start identifying those little foxes that you know, impedes us from a a obeying God and walking in obedience in our relationship with God.
00:46:52
CODES
Because the easier and more comfortable, even lack of transparency with God because could also be a little fox that is, you know, a danger in your relationship with God.
00:47:05
CODES
If for any reason, one of the core principles of this platform that we've tried to establish is transparency and vulnerability. We've been vulnerable with you guys from day one.
00:47:16
CODES
Whether people criticize or scrutinize what we say, boy, we don't really care because already God has prepared our heart and told us that He's calling us to in Ezekiel that He's calling us to a stiff neck generation. That's what this generation is.
00:47:32
CODES
Nobody wants to listen, they're god to themselves. So we already know that. So whether or not it doesn't really validate nothing, it doesn't really do anything because this is just being done. Whatever people validate it, whether people validate it or not, that's not the issue here.
00:47:48
CODES
But we have tried to model that behavior of vulnerability and transparency for a reason, to literally demonstrate to you guys that the core essence or the core foundation that would strengthen your relationship with God, that will make you more intimate in your relationship with God is that vulnerability to to before him, transparency before him.
00:48:13
CODES
Dishonesty, without transparency and vulnerability, dishonesty breeds. Over time, you become very dishonest in the way you see yourself before God. You can be happy in yourself, saying that you do this for God, you do that for God, and over hyping in yourself more than God sees you.
00:48:32
CODES
And before God, you're literally basically doing nothing because you're not being honest in your evaluation of yourself before him. So literally, are you deceiving?
00:48:43
CODES
You know?
00:48:46
CODES
But yeah, I like that you brought up that hope. I know I completely went off tangent from what you were talking about with Peter. But yeah, that entertaining what ifs is really a destroyer.
00:49:00
CODES
It literally is a destroyer.
00:49:05
CODES
So we have a few questions that we wanted to answer regarding, before we end, regarding load of foxes. And we're going to answer that to the best of our abilities.
00:49:16
CODES
And if you guys have more questions, please do leave a comment below and we can answer and so reply as we get a chance to see it.
00:49:25
CODES
All right. All right, Becca, are you ready for two questions? So the two questions are, what some examples of little foxes in modern life? I think we've hinted on that, but you can elaborate more on that.
00:49:37
CODES
And then the other question that I could answer is, what is the warning associated with little foxes? I think you also kind of... I don't know. We should actually literally be looking at these questions first before we start rambling and starting the podcast because then we're literally answering all the questions before even looking at the questions. But whatever. this point. But just go ahead.
00:49:59
CODES
I think couple examples. can't even. couple of examples that I found, i mean, which which is what you touched based on the dishonesty and and transparency, right?
00:50:09
CODES
Some of us, like when we come to God, we think that God doesn't know what we did yesterday or a few minutes ago, a few seconds ago. We try to withhold so much information from him, looking very righteous to God.
00:50:22
CODES
And which is what you pointed out. Like even the Bible says righteousness is like a filthy rags before him. And I'm like, what's the point of withholding information from the creator that is omniscient it's everywhere. fact that angels goes around writing information of the way you live your life every minute, every second. And you think that God doesn't know what you did a few seconds ago.
00:50:45
CODES
You know, because a lot of times when you are very honest and open with God, that's how God learned to trust you. That's true. You know, it says, okay, when you become more transparent and honest with him, he wants to give you more things to do for him because he knows he can trust you.
00:51:02
CODES
But when you're not honest and open, how can God use you? How can God trust you? Right? Today you're good. Tomorrow you are something else. And it's like you're not consistent with your behaviors and characters. Mm-hmm. you withhold information from your creator.
00:51:18
CODES
Almost like you don't even know that He knows. Even before you open your mouth and say anything, He already knows what about to say.
00:51:25
CODES
That's so true. That's amazing. And what I can say regarding the warnings associated with the little foxes, what literally does the Bible tells us to do with stuff like little foxes?
00:51:40
CODES
When we go back to that scripture that we read with Songs of Solomon, right? Two verses 15. The scripture in this place is telling us, catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines.
00:51:58
CODES
Emphasis on catch. This is from the New King James Version. It says, catch us the foxes. It's not telling you to just chase it away or it it like ignore it.
00:52:10
CODES
It's saying to catch. Catch there is an action word. It means that there should be a a deliberate recognition that that fox is there because without you recognizing or acknowledging that there's a fox there, you're not going to catch it, right? Right.
00:52:27
CODES
First, it's a call to action. You need to identify that these foxes are there. And that comes from what my sister Rebecca said, that you need to constantly, actively be transparent and vulnerable to God and pray to Him to help you identify these little foxes, these bad habits, these dangerous things in your life that is hindering your growth with Him or your relationship with Him
00:52:55
CODES
A prayer of constantly telling God to bring those weaknesses, spiritual law or physical weaknesses that is hindering you from getting deeper with God.
00:53:08
CODES
Catching those foxes. Catch them as they're happening. and That's to me, that's an active constant, a daily second by second thing. Those thought patterns that are not in line with God, catch them.
00:53:23
CODES
Catch them as they're happening. Do not entertain them. Do not let them sit. Do not analyze them and like make a nest out of it or make a home out of it.
00:53:34
CODES
Scripture says to catch them. Catch them as they're happening and bring them to God. Point them to God. Oh Lord, look at this thought that is coming to my mind. Please take them away from my heart. Search inside of your heart. What is the motive of that thought? Why you're thinking that?
00:53:49
CODES
Bring those things to God, catch them as they're happening. It's a call to vigilance. It's not a call to very lackadaisical approach, like in your relationship with God, like being nonchalant, like you don't really care.
00:54:03
CODES
That spiritual complacency is what God detests. You don't leave your life like there is no sense of eternity. You need to be vigilant and be intentional in your walk with God.
00:54:14
CODES
Just as if you can be as intentional looking through your partner's phone, looking at who is texting him or what kind of side checks he has, you can be that vigilant in knowing how many things are coming into your mind, how many thoughts are coming into your mind and bringing them, catching them.
00:54:29
CODES
If you're very much focused on catching all the nasty thoughts going through your mind and all the bad habits growing in your heart, you have less time worrying about how many side shakes your partner is having.
00:54:41
CODES
And you dealing with yourself is going to be in turn a gospel to your partner for their lives to be changed. And not only that, when you spend time talking to God, you spend less time worrying about your partner.
00:54:53
CODES
exactly exactly exactly because God automatically takes your heart away from there you won't even have to worry about anything but to focus more on him but yeah that being said it's a call to vigilance be watchful of the things your thought patterns your character your heart posture towards God distractions distractions and you walk with God because we're at that time period where there's so much distractions that it's the end time and All of those distractions are taking our minds away
Conclusion and Gratitude
00:55:22
CODES
from God. But I pray that this little encouragement or little encouragement
00:55:29
CODES
Admonition would be an encouragement to your heart to be more watchful in taking your relationship with God seriously and more intimately. Well, thank you again, guys, for joining us in this wonderful, wonderful episode. And we're glad that this particular season has come to an end.
00:55:45
CODES
And we will see you guys shortly a new season, same place with Covenant Diaries on our YouTube channel or a a Spotify channel. Well, thank you guys so much for joining us. We pray that the Lord blesses you.
00:55:59
CODES
And keep you stronger than ever before. Amen. Love you guys. Bye.