"...Now he (Judas) said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he

had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it..."  John 12:6 (NASB) This chilling description given in the

Gospel of John opens a door into the soul and motivation of those who follow in the footsteps of Judas. What we find

here is that betrayal at it's core is not a one time, singular act. It is a process that begins with a single act and then

continues until it invades every other area of life. Ultimately it produces death to the one who does it. However, God

uses it for His purposes to strengthen the one who has been betrayed if they refuse to be poisoned by it.

In life and ministry you will experience betrayal at the hands of those who don't like you, those you think are friends

and even those who are family members. We have in fact found this to be true in our own lives many times. No

matter who betrayal comes through it is never easy to accept and always causes us to rethink our understanding of

the people and circumstances that it came through. We can be shaken on almost every level and it is not a pleasant

process to go through. Especially for those of us who have been totally blind-sided by it, betrayal brings a level

of devastation unimagined to areas that we assumed were untouchable. As painful as it is, betrayal actually has

it's purpose in the Kingdom of God. In fact I have come to understand that it is designed by God to reveal more

about the one betrayed than it ever reveals about the one who did the vile act.

Look at every great man or woman of God and you will find numerous times when they had to go through betrayal.

David had Saul, Adonijah and Absalom to deal with. All of them betrayed him and actually wanted him dead.

Mary had Joseph betray her when he wanted to put her away after learning she was pregnant. Paul had Alexander

the coppersmith do him and the church great harm. The list goes on and on but one truth remains unchanged. Every

act of betrayal has a demonically influenced source and a Divinely inspired purpose. You cannot move onward in

your call in God without going into the furnace of betrayal. Here is where the hidden dross within us is finally purged

and where the motives or our heart will be manifested. Nothing, I repeat, nothing in your walk with God will change

you like betrayal.

Hebrews 13:21 and James 1:3-4 give us God's perspective in all this. "Now the God of peace, that brought again

from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

make you perfect (mature) in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight,..."

"...Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that

 you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing...". It is this patient, steadfast endurance during great trials that

causes the good work of God to make you perfect, mature and unshakeable. Never ask for a shortcut or an easy

substitute. Let every circumstance, even betrayal, do it's perfect work within you. If you will, you are allowing

God to prepare you for greatness. Once you see it from this perspective you can embrace anything, count it all joy

and look with anticipation for the joy that is yet to come.

Prophets Bill & Esther Emmons

Prophetic Destiny Ministry

www.pdministry.org