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Here we have a picture of a bullfighter, a bull, and red cape and something hidden in the cape, a sword.  This is a perfect picture of humans, the devil and his traps and snares.  Let's examine this picture and diagram parallels; first the bull.  We are the bulls in this story.  Next the cape, the cape is the thing we believe is our "problem", "trial", or "tribulation".  Then we have the bullfighter; he is the adversary, the devil.  Last but not least is the hidden sword, hidden in the recesses of the basically harmless RED CAPE. 

Now being a cow isn't bad,  but being a mad cow chasing red capes is dangerous.  As cattle all we have to do is graze on the green grass in the pastures.  Some of us have worked hard to be content with grazing, but occasionally we get distracted by the adversary and end up chasing red capes.  Still others of us have allowed ourselves to become pawns of the adversary.  We are so used to chasing capes we don't even know we're doing it.  Then there is a real wild bunch who do nothing but chase red capes and screaming "the sky is falling".  As children of the most high God we are to be lead by Him, not driven to chase after the red capes set in front of us.  Here are a couple scripture references that will help us settle this in bedrock.

The adversary wants us to battle one another.  If he can get us fighting he will put strife and envy into play.  He will get us to have vain imaginations about what a person might do to us to hurt us.  We build on a suffered wrong and then we base all future decisions based upon that mistake or hurt.  Here is one of the biggest RED CAPES known to man.  We aren't supposed to fight with our enemies, we're supposed to love them. 

2 Corinthians: 10:3-6
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
KJV
 

God tells you to give to a poor person or to a ministry.  You get excited until you look into your wallet.  The Lord directs you to give $100.00.  So you open up your wallet and notice that you have exactly $100.00.  Immediately the adversary reminds you of the electric bill that is due.  You owe $129.00.  If you give the $100.00 you're even less likely to pay that bill.  Things begin to look gloomy.  You also remember that your vehicle is low on fuel and it's due for an oil change.  The wind is really blowing.  The clouds are filling the sky.  If you keep watching the wind and clouds you'll be fooled by the RED CAPE and then you'll need a miracle rescue.  What you don't realize is that if you just obeyed and ignored the cape flashing before you, you have put yourself in line for God to do a miraculous work of provision for you.  Not only that, but the sowing begins the cycle of reaping. 

Eccl 11:4
4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
KJV
 

Eph 6:10-18
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
KJV

Remember Peter walking on the water?  The minute he saw the wind boisterous he was ready to sink.  His faith was killed and he needed rescued.  Now the natural man can't normally walk on water, even if it's completely still he can't walk on it.  So the adversary brought up Peter's knowledge of boats and how they react on water.  If the wind gets boisterous they can sink.  He put his mind on the natural and got it off the spiritual.  Yeshua was the spiritual, he had bid him to walk with him in the realm of the spirit.  Peter was used to walking in the natural, it was his comfort zone.  Sometimes we get comfortable in sickness.  We get used to being crippled and like the attention it gives us.  We have to be like blind Bartameus and drop our beggars rags.  So Peter was moved by wind.  A RED CAPE if ever I saw one.

Matthew 14:29-31
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
KJV
 

Remember Yeshua when his cousin John was beheaded by Herod.  His heart was broken and he wanted to be alone with the Father.  He headed out to a solitary place, but God had other plans.  Yeshua could have allowed himself to be offended at what had happened but he was lead of the Spirit rather than driven of the adversary.  He did go to the solitary place, but the people followed him.  He was lead by the Spirit of compassion and ended up feeding the five thousand.  He could have told the people "Get lost", like many of us would have done.  We would have expected everyone to feel sorry for us because our family member had been killed.  We would have gotten pity, but instead of pity Yeshua brought glory to the Father.  No RED CAPE chasing for him.

• Mark 6:29-44
  29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
  30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
  31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
  32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.
  33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.
  34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
  35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:
  36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
  37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
  38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
  39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
  40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
  41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
  42 And they did all eat, and were filled.
  43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.
  44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
  KJV

• I taught on this subject in greater length in Lubbock, TX on November 3, 2002.  If you'd like to obtain a CD or tape of this message visit the "Teaching Tools"  page.
  
  The answer to the RED CAPE syndrome: 

• Perfect Peace