Returning from a wonderful evening along with my two-house guests found an unsettling discovery upon opening the front door. The entire house had standing water except for the dining room and kitchen, but I was not prepared for the next discovery where both bathroom tubs had raw sewage, it was very unsightly and unsettling. The linoleum flooring and carpeting were all ruined! Signaling the first episode of a foundational problem which has plagued my household for more than thirty years. When things were functioning at their optimum this awful problem would erupt and cause the entire home to be in disarray, shutting down the plumbing system. Meanwhile, Abba Father has had me on a special assignment to pray about this foundational problem. There were times when it felt that all my strength was gone and I could not pray another prayer; just then these words would speak to me, “Slack not your riding!”  At one point this foundational problem caused so many other problems, I just simply stopped praying and all hope was quickly drifting away but Yahweh is so merciful and full of compassion, the Word awakened me from the book of Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy GOD: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Still, I remained upon my bed non- responsive until these words rang out from Abba, Father, “Margaret, get up! I need you to function.” Immediately, I sat up in the bed then stood on my feet and responded, “Father, forgive me. I will go and continue to do Your bidding!” The prayers continued sometimes all night until 6 a.m. and would proceed throughout the day.

Recently, I felt a shift in my home and followed instructions for two weeks consecutively to be in prayer at 9 a.m. One morning while on my knees praying an unseen hand stood me on my feet and directed me to prayer walk the entire house. Upon entering the hallway, it was as if it was in the sewer, the foul scent emanated – the full height of it. Incredibly the prayers continued until after 2 p.m., that afternoon but what I did not know was that while in prayer the foundational problem had erupted yet again but this time divine intervention was holding back the devastating effects. The Word spoke from the book of Isaiah 59:19 “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”

Wherever you are on your journey have you been experiencing vexing problems in your home? Is your marriage all torn up and does your children seem estranged? On your job, has the problems intensified? Pause for a moment, take a deep breath in……. now breathe out……. more questions. When your problems are no more and everything is going well, do those same problems reoccur? Do you make progress only to experience ending up at the same place you started? While you are thinking on these questions just maybe your problems could be foundational. Could it be the problem or problems are a result of what your ancestors have done?

Let us pause right now to pray.  Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus breathe on your beloved one reading this message and unlock the mystery behind the scenes which are causing chaos and confusion. Father, remove all blinders, along with deception. In Jesus name, unveil your truth and sever all lies. For Your Word declares in the Gospel of John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Amen.

Listen, when my foundational problem first surfaced and I stood looking at what seemed like a flood compounded with raw sewage in both bathtubs; silently I said to the Lord, “Is it possible for us to bathe in these tubs again?” The carpeting and flooring were destroyed, and all our house guests’ belongings were soaking wet!

You may have asked Abba Father if He could use you again because of where you have been and for all that you have experienced with reoccurring foundational problems. You may have ventured far to get away from the vexing problem only to have it follow you! It is only when you locate the root cause of your problems which could indeed be generational. You must sever the root through the leading of The Holy Spirit in consistent, persistent, relentless prayer and fasting. The Word is speaking from the Mark 9:28-29 (28)” And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, why could not we cast him out?” (29)” And he said unto them, this kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”

Through the work of The Holy Spirit my husband walked to a specific area in the yard and to dig in the ground where the foundational plumbing is, and he discovered a “T/ Pipe” had broken off and it had caused the vexing and distressing problem to my entire household for over thirty years. Yes, we dealt with all the symptoms but had not realized the problem was foundational. Take note, it was not the Plumber, who discovered the root cause, it was my husband. I hear it resounding, only you can locate the cause of your problems by asking Abba Father to show you, who in your genealogy may have messed up and done evil and did not repent? Could it be that Yahweh wants you to stand in the gap to break it off not only you but off your entire generation and even for the generations to come so they too will be free of strongholds and foundational problems? Listen, my household has now been set free from the foundational problem that had plagued us for over thirty-two years O Hallelujah! Symbolically, I hear the words of the Psalmist speaking from Psalm 124 (1)”If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;” (2)”If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us;” (3)”Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:” (4)”Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:” (5)”Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.” (6)” Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us a prey to their teeth.” (7)” Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers:” (8)” Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

I hear Isaiah 41:10 speaking again, can you hear it? “Fear not; for I am with thee be not dismayed; for I am thy GOD: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Could it be that Yahweh is calling you to get up right where you are and deal with your foundational problems?

On your journey it is it is vital to live the yielded life unto Yahweh and to take inventory daily lest you and I become like Balaam whose donkey spoke to him during a dire situation.  Can you imagine a dumb beast speaking to you?  Let’s find out more about Balaam and of how the situation unfolded concerning Balaam’s donkey from the book of Numbers 22 beginning from verse (1)”And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.”  (2)”And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.”  (3)”And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.”  (4)”And Moab said unto the elders of Midan, now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field.  And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time” (5)”He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.” (6)”Come now therefore, I pray thee curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wort that he who thou blesses is blessed, and he whom thou curest is cursed.”  Can you imagine Balaam having the gall so to speak to go and ask God for permission to curse His own people?  What is even more alarming is that Balaam still persisted in asking God if he could go with the princes of Balak, the king of Midan after hearing of how he would be promoted and given great honour if he would curse God’s people, how tragic!  Read it for yourself of how Balaam knew better yet he still went presumptuously before the LORD.  Verse (15)”And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.”   (16)”And they came to Balaam, and said to him, ‘Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:”  (17)”For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me:  come therefore, I pray thee, curse me thee this people.”  (18)”And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do les or more.”  (19)”Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.”

It is a very dangerous thing to continue going before the LORD to ask Him if He would undo what He has already done.”  (20)”And God came unto Balaam at night and said unto him, if the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.”  Balaam really wanted to go and curse God’s people and this caused God’s anger to be stirred against him.  (21)”And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.”  (22)”And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him.  Now he was riding upon an ass, and his two servants were with him.” Balaam’s donkey had a clearer vision than him because he was blinded by his lust for power and money along with the wealth of this world.  (23)”And the as saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way” (24)”But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.”  (25)”And when the as saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.” (26)”And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.”  (27)”And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.”

Where ever you are on your journey stop right now (me too) and reflect on how you are treating those whom Abba Father has entrusted in your care, they are serving faithfully in ministry yet just maybe you have become like Balaam and have resorted to being abusive in your speech and attitude toward them?  Clearly Balaam physically beat his donkey and it seemed that if Balaam had his way surely he would have killed his donkey who had served him so faithfully for many years.  Let’s read about this together this time from (28)”And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, what have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?” Do you know Balaam had the nerve to answer his donkey?  This is what Balaam said, (29)”And Balaam said unto the ass, because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.”

You could be serving faithfully in your Church and is being even now being treated just like Balaam’s donkey, who served Balaam faithfully but Balaam beat him and sought to kill him with the sword if he had it in his power to do so.  I tell you, Yahweh will intervene on your behalf like He did for Balaam’s donkey.  (30)”And the ass said unto Balaam, am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day?  Was I ever wont to do so unto thee?  And he said, nay.”  (31)”Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.”

Beware!  You and I must take heed lest we hear these same words spoken to us, (32)”And the angel of the LORD said unto him, wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? Behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:” (33)”And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.”

I hear it resounding, beware!  You and I can learn a valuable lesson from Balaam’s donkeys’ behavior while in the presence of the angel of the LORD and of how Balaam behaved and didn’t even know and could not see the angel, who was standing in the front of his donkey with his sword drawn to kill him.   We can learn a valuable lesson from Balaam’s Donkey!

Selah!

During one of the times while in intense, persistent prayer  refused to give sleep to my eyelids. Something unusual happened; my feet were led into my youngest daughter’s room where I remained for many hours, but shortly after being there a long dragon accompanied by little imps made their way into her room. This reminded me of a time I had fasted for a length of time before the LORD and as I lay upon my bed, my body was in a weakened state between sleep and wake; above me, a flying dragon was in a fury was flying directly towards me. The Word spoke from Revelation chapter 12:3-10 NEW KJV. (3) “And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.” (4) “His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her child as soon as it was born.” (5) “She bore a male child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up to God and His throne. Please continue to read, (6) “Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God that she should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.” (7) “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon and the dragon and his angels fought;” (8) “but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.” (9) “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (10) “Then I heard a voice saying in heaven, “Now Salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of God; and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. (11) “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” Now, as I faced the dragon and his imps, the Word spoke to me this time from Revelation chapter 13:3-7 (3) “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.” As the dragon launched his attack on my daughter; he could not carry it out for as I lay upon her bed I was actually standing in the gap for her. The battle raged on in the Resurrection power of Jesus Christ until 6 a.m. the dragon and his imps made their exit in defeat. The Word spoke from Isaiah 59:19 “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.” The question is, though, Are you and I worshiping the dragon and bowing to a corrupt system? Are you and I falling prey to the devices of the flying dragon? (4) “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; saying “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (5) “And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.” (6)”Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in the heaven. (7) “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.” What you have been enduring, will you continue to stand up for righteousness and the truth of the Word of God even though you could be at your wits end so to speak? It may seem like everything you depended on has now fallen apart. What am I going to do, you may ask? The answer is in Jesus Christ. Take your place sit in heavenly places, even though the battle continues to rage on every side – it may feel like you are going through some deep dark waters. The very foundation you are standing on is being shaken. The Word is speaking again from John chapter 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” The Word continued to speak, but this time from the book of Deuteronomy chapter 28:7 “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.” Continue to fast and pray consistently, be relentless in prayer, pray the Word and speak the Word to every situation. Let the fruit of your lips sing the high praises unto Yahweh; always walk in faith and obedience. Your obedience and the unction to pray without ceasing will put the flying dragon too, flight. Satan is the flying dragon.