STRANGE CHILDREN

Ps 144:11 says Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange (foreign, alien, foreignness, that which is foreign) children, whose mouth speaketh vanity (1) emptiness, vanity, falsehood a) emptiness, nothingness, vanity b) emptiness of speech, lying c) worthlessness (of conduct), and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: (1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one) b) deceit, fraud, wrong 1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb) c) falsehood (injurious in testimony) 1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets) e) lie, falsehood (in general) 1) false tongue f) in vain) (12)That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: (13)That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: (14) That our oxen may be strong to labor; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. (15) Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

As we are seeing God birth forth sons in our lives, we must be aware of those who are "strange children." Those who say one thing, but do another. Those who appear to know God, but are actually foreign to the ways of God. There are those who want the benefits of sonship without paying the price (going through the proving) of sonship. These speak words of emptiness and are full of deception. As long as our ministries have strange children trying to pass as sons, our true sons and daughters will not be able to truly grow and become established.

These are like the tares among the wheat. Speaking of tares, Ungers Bible Dictionary says, Tares are numerous in the grain fields, along with a large number of other species of plants not suitable for human food. They are left until the stalks are well grown and then, not long before harvest (MT 13:30), women and children, and sometimes men, go carefully among the grain and pull up all but the wheat and barely. There are four kinds of tares in the Holy Land, by far the most common of which in the grain fields is Lolium temulentum, L., or the bearded darnel. It is a poisonous grass, almost indistinguishable from wheat while the two are growing into blade. But when they come into ear, they can be separated without difficulty.

MT 13:24-30 talks about about the tares that are sown by the enemy (while men slept). The enemy will attempt to sow those in our ministries, businesses ..etc in places and in ways that we are unaware. If he cannot get us to quit then he will try to sow what will weaken, in an attempt to eventually take us down. Verse 26 says, "But when the wheat sprang up and bore grain, then the tares became evident also." There comes the time when it become clear, manifest, obvious, plain which are tares and which are wheat.

This took place in the field of the man who had sown good seed in his field. The servants of the land owner wanted to go uproot the tares as soon as they became evident. They were told to wait, so they would not damage the wheat. The land owner said, "Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn."

It is imperative that we allow God to do the work. If we move too quickly to cut something out we could do damage unnecessarily. God knows how to get the work done. During a season of harvest, when we are being taken to another level, Holy Spirit will make sure the tares are removed and the wheat comes out healthy. There is a time to allow them to grow together, even when it has become clear that all are not wheat (true sons) and there comes the time when God will begin to do His work of uprooting.

This is an area where apostolic patience and God's wisdom is required. God is building His church! We must see and hear clearly and build according to the heavenly pattern. When God rids us of "strange children" we begin to see our sons "be as plants grown up in their youth." We will see our daughters "be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace." This begins to affect every area of our lives. The New English Bible says, (Ps 144:23-15) "Happy are we whose sons in their early prime stand like tall towers, our daughters like sculptured pillars at the corners of a palace. Our barns are full and furnish plentiful provision; our sheep bear lambs in thousands upon thousands; the oxen in our fields fat and sleek; there are no miscarriage or untimely birth, no cries of distress in our public places. Happy are the people in such a case as ours; happy the people who have the Lord for their God."

Oh God rid me of strange children!

Apostle Tina Baker