He then contrasted king David with king Jeroboam. He said when the reaping got rough, instead of getting to reaping, he instead got to running. In fact the Bible often basically says that Israel's wicked, unrighteous, unholy kings walked after the order of Jeroboam the man that made Israel sin. And if they lived and did righteously, then the Bible often says they walked after the order of David.

As it were someone could have asked Jeroboam, what happened? You had so much potential and opportunity. And, Jeroboam could have responded, "...it was the rain." Again, there is a stark contrast in comparison to David's response to the rain. (and it evermore did rain on David.) From the very beginning of David's anointing in the presence of his brothers, who would conduct themselves like his enemies. The enemy doesn't mind us being called a Christian as long as we don't live like one. He doesn't mind when someone preaches a sermon as long as we don't get anointed during our preaching. Because the adversary knows that it's going to take the anointing to break the yoke. The enemy doesn't even mind stepping up consecration as long as we don't get anointed, because if we are anointed, we are DANGEROUS!

[We wonder what it takes to have the Isaiah 61 ministry which sets the captives free... it's the anointing!!!!]

So, what did David do when reaping got rough, due to king Saul? What will we do when the blue sky turns gray? Will we chose to reap in the rain? When David faced the rain, he ran to the prophet and the man of God in his life, but Jeroboam ran to Egypt which represents all of the bad alternatives, the world, the past, ungodliness, it's where you came from, and represents slavery and bondage...

David went back to Samuel, which represents the source of his power, his anointing,

We all face distressful situations. There are hounds of hell, lying to us, harassing us, etc. for a purpose.

They are after our anointing, consecration, walk with God. They are trying to back us down, and back us up, so they can take us out! Don’t you dare go back to where and what you used to be. Don't you dare backslide. Don't you dare give up on your family!

It may have seemed like adversity broke loose on you when you developed a prayer life, and started fasting. But don't you dare stop. Somebody said, "when it's hardest to pray, that's when you need to pray the hardest"

- - - - -

If apostle Paul had the mic today, he would say. . ."don't you be weary in well doing, for in due season, you will reap. Don't you lose heart. Don't lose your grip! Don’t you lose hope! Cause if you will endure till the end, the same shall be saved. Paul would encourage us to go back to our Bible, to our prophet. Dig in our heals and fight a good fight of faith! He'd tell us to "stand". He said having done all to stand. . . He would say "soldier you better endure hardness as a good soldier!" You want to be a good soldier, then during the hard times you have to understand that's the time to endure.

"Hey I know about hardness, I was shipwrecked three times, ... I know what it's like to be in perils of my own brethren and my own countrymen, perils of waters, perils in the deep, .... three times I was beaten, stoned multiple times. I know what it's like to be hungry, destitute, but in everything

But this is the bottom line, none of these things move me, When it starts raining in your life in everything give thanks!

- - - - -

When it rains, don't quit, don't take a vacation in the Spirit.

Don’t go to sleep, cause the bible says that when they slept the enemy came in and that's when they sowed the tares among the wheat. When it rains, don't you load up them tools. You better get back out there and go to work! I'm talking about what to do when it rains. How to respond when it rains, How to respond to the rain that falls on every life. Working in the rain is uncomfortable, but don't you retreat. Don't you let go when it rains in your life!

Job was a good man who feared God and eschewed evil, or avoided evil, but evil still found him

When it rained in Job's life, the Bible said he didn't sin, and didn't charge God foolishly, and at the end of the day, he said, though he slay me, yet will I serve Him!

[Our natural inclination is to look at commitment, and additional consecration, etc. during times of adversity simply as an additional burden, something that may cause us to lose our grip as it were, but it's just the opposite. Commitment in times of adversity acts like an anchor that keeps us from being swept away, by the strong hurricane storm winds and waves of life!]

When the reaping gets rough, the rough are going to get to reaping! In the face of an assault we need David's who are not going to run after the flesh. Where is Eleazar at today, the man who will fight when everyone else flees? When the going gets rough.

Did fighting men of God in the Bible get weary in the fight? Absolutely, but the Bible also tells of some whose hand clave to the sword, and the jaw bone. They didn't let go but held tighter! [just as commitment acted as a keeping factor above, holding tighter to the sword acts as a factor that will keep us during adversity. If you will cleave to your sword (even when you're weary) you will be surprised how God will work with you and help you. You will be surprised what God will do with one weary man with a sword in his hand!

In Eccl 3 there are 20+ times to do thus and so, but I think one time to do something was intentionally left out, and that's a time to quit, because it's never a time to quit!! Don't you ever quit on your marriage! Don't you ever quit on God! Don't you ever quit on prayer! Jeroboam, David gave you the pattern. Don't you go back to sin, and your old life! Go back to the source of your power. If you want to be anointed, get a prayer life! Don't go to Egypt, there's slavery, bondage and death in Egypt

That’s not all. Because it was after Jeroboam went back into Egypt, that he came up with the idea of making and worshiping golden calves. It was after Jeroboam went into Egypt that he planted a seed in Israel's mind, that caused them to sin. What did he say? He said, "It is too much!" Consecration is too much! Sunday night service is too much. He was basically also telling them that God's more concerned with His people experiencing comfort and convenience. Prayer is too much, consecration is too much. Commitment to God's house is too much. Fasting is for fanatics. Holiness is too much.

Jeroboam's doctrine is that worship shouldn't cost you anything. He caused their Jerusalem sacrifices to stop.

[David basically said, in Ps 119 that the commandments were his keeping power.]

In stark contrast to that doctrine, king David said, I refuse to give to God what costs me nothing,

[ I will pay full price, I refuse to cut corners on God, or look for a discount off the things of God]

The one who ran said the price was too high. The one who reaped, said the price was not high enough.

I don't want to lose my children by teaching and training them how to look for loopholes.

I'll do whatever it takes, I'll weep between the porch and the altar, whatever it takes!

Pulpits all over the country telling people it doesn't take all of that. It's too much.

Implicitly they are saying it costs too much to live for God.

[He told them it was too much while simultaneously presenting them with a false god. An idol. While introducing idol worship. While actually replacing their God with a god.]

That's what we get when we mix the world with church. We repent out of self preservation, or position preservation. We circle the same old mountain in wilderness wondering. We are bound and become addicted.

I read about how God's glory was important, manifested, and thick for OT prophets, and how it filled Solomon's temple, and God showed me.

2 Chronicles 5:6 basically says they offered burnt offerings which could not be numbered. That's what brought the thick, powerful, overwhelming presence of God!

[It's also what brought about God appearing and talking to Solomon afterward]

His glory is all about who we love. God or the world. For example, when David sinned, he pleaded with God not to take His presence from him, while in contrast, king Saul basically said, just don't take my position away from me! If you love God you will reap in the rain, but if you love you, then you’re gonna run!