The Winner Knows

As I was making an early morning commute this morning I thought about recent experiences I have had with trying to move with God. When I say move with God, I mean go where He is going when He is going there without being completely terrified. That kind of moving with God has not always been easy for me, and in fact, is not easy now. It is somewhat easier, however, and I was trying to think about why. As I pondered this idea, I began to see that it really is true that we have to build our trust in God for victory in current battles on the ones we have won previously. We have to say the truth out loud about who God is to us. We have to say the truth out loud about what God has said and done. All of these things help us to KNOW that God is taking care of us right now. When we know this inside, we win the battle. Let me give an example.

I am finishing up my lunch. The beginning was not so good. I tripped up the stairs here at the deli and spilled scalding hot coffee on my wrist. The proprietors were very worried. I was ministering to someone on the phone so I grabbed some ice to put on it and just kept talking. As I was writing this, I prayed out loud the truth about who God is over my wrist. I laid hands on it, telling it to be whole. I prayed in the Spirit. This was all out loud. I could sense the power og God being released. And my wrist? Well, my wrist is healed! Praise God!

Prayer
Father, I thank You for being the Healer King, my Healer King! Praise to You for watching over us when we stumble. Thank You for lifting us up, dusting us off, healing our wounds, and setting us on Your path. Praise and glory and honor to the King of kings! In Jesus name. Amen.

Spiritual Warfare Tips

As believers we frequently talk about warfare, spiritual warfare, but what does that mean in real life? We all experience the challenges of living, whether they are small inconveniences or situations that seem to challenge our very lives. These are different in many ways. But they are clearly in opposition to us as a whole human on the earth here to be a part of God’s kingdom and to spread God’s kingdom. So what exactly do these challenges have to do with spiritual warfare? To answer that we have to consider who we are.

We are the temple of God if we are believers, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:17. Here it says that God will destroy anyone that defiles the temple. If your body comes under attack for any reason, whether a person or circumstance, God will go after that source and destroy it. Secondly, remember that we are spiritual first and then physical. That is the way of things in creation. They start with the spirit side, in God, and get created into material things. So if something is attacking us, it started in the spiritual before it ever appeared in the physical. That is just the way it works. Paul knew this when he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians telling them that they were spiritual and the weapons were spiritual. What are these weapons and how do we use them?

In Romans 10 Paul talks about a power we have. It is not physical, but it affects the physical. It is the power that changes us forever from lost sinners to believers saved by grace. It is the power in our mouth. Let’s put a few things together here. If we pray without ceasing (out of our mouth), if we use the tongue for good as James admonished us, and if we speak the things that God has said first to ourselves then we change our minds, we build our faith. We have to fight at the smallest level first, and get to the place where we can fight bigger things, like giants. This is why James said both good and evil should not come from our mouth. When I think of how often I have gotten upset about the simplest thing and said something stupid, it makes me sad. No man can rule his own tongue by himself. But with God, all things are possible, and if we will but commit to verbalizing God’s truth to our selves through out the day, we will be fighting and winning the smaller battles and preparing for the bigger ones.

Prayer
Father, thank You for putting the power in us through the spirit of living water that can pour out of our mouth. Thank You for this day in history that the Jewish people call Shavuot that is the day You sent Your Holy Spirit to indwell us. Thank You that You help us to learn to control our tongue that our power might be released to defeat our enemies in our prayer, praise, and speaking. In Jesus name. Amen.

Preparing For Battle

In Samuel when David faced Goliath, he said the battle was the Lord’s. It is easy for us to think then that there is nothing that we have to do regarding the fight. If we look closer, however, we can see there is more to it than that. David spoke in this same area of scriptures about how God had been with him in the fields taking care of the sheep. God had helped David to defend the sheep from predators. David understood that life was not just about battles, life was also about preparation for the day of battle.

Every day we have opportunity to spend time with God. that is our choice, and we can choose to do that or not. If we choose not to do that then we move on to not spending time with Him. Suppose David had not been in the fields and experienced previous deliverance from enemies at the hand of God? Would he have been so quick to see that this enemy was just one more that God would help him defeat? It is important, I think, that every day, every chance we get, we interact with God. We need to be building that confidence in the small things He is doing for us every day. These will build into bigger and bigger things as we move with Him. Then when what appears to be a giant to the people that have not prepared themselves for battle by spending time with God (like the army), we will be able to say with David, the battle is the Lord’s.

Prayer
Father, please help us to spend moments with You every day. Please help us to rely on You in small things every day, and praise You in these things. Help us build the courage and faith to trust in You to be with us in the daily battles and the bigger battles. Help us slay our giants. In Jesus name. Amen.

Grace On The Field Of Battle

This morning as the sun came up I was thinking of the battle we are in as believers. It is difficult for me to easily describe this battle. I say this because one day seems good another not so much. Why is that? Actually, even within a day things tend to go up and down, and if I focus on that, I go up and down with it. It seems to me there is a war raging, and these “events” we experience are just the movements, the battles, in this war. The war is for our eternal future, and each battle is a step toward that future. All of these points caused me to wonder about the battle, how it is fought, by whom and the outcome. It seems to me that I would really like to win these battles as often as possible.

There are so many great promises in the scriptures to those that believe. In Psalms 113:7-9 we see that God raises the poor out of the ash heap. This sounds like when I have experienced negative news and then He gives me some good news. This is especially true for me when this news has been about my finances. Then God says He takes that person and has them sit with the princes. It is amazing to me how God can give us a place with people that I would never have thought I would have. We actually get to influence the earth with our prayers. Even princes would be envious of this! He ends this segment saying He gives a barren woman a home and children. For those who have sought to have either of these there is a strong emotion that arises. God does all of these things by His grace. We will come back to this point on grace in a minute.

I Samuel 17:47 says that the battle is the Lord’s. This is the famous story of David and Goliath where David told Goliath it was not about swords and spears. God does battle on God’s terms against the enemies of His people. And God never, never, never loses! This was a small shepherd boys words against a giant and a nation. We all know what happened. Goliath trusted in his own ability, in his sword and in his spear. David trusted in God, and slung a single stone that knocked the giant to the ground. David used the giant’s own sword then to kill him and cut off his head. He used the enemies weapons against him after God helped him. The battle truly was God’s by the grace of God.

In James 4:6 it says God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud. David was not a proud warrior. He was a shepherd. His attitude was that of someone that wondered why the army was concerned about the giant, because he knew God was the deliverer. All he knew was that God had helped him with the sheep. Certainly God would prevail when his people’s lives were on the line! He had a humble heart, the heart of a TRUE shepherd. So what is the moral of the story?

God is on our side and will put our words into action when we declare His wonders to men. He does this for the humble. God will deliver our enemies into our hands, if we will humble ourselves in His sight.

Prayer
Father, please forgive me for all the times when I have said or done things in pride. I really have nothing to be proud about because all I have You have given to me. Please strike down the enemies of Your people, in every place in every land and country. Please deliver Your people today Lord, and knock their enemies to the ground. Please let Your people see and feel Your presence today Lord through Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus name. Amen.

The Procession of the King

When I think of the days when the scriptures were written, I think of the rulers in battle. Originally it was a time when kings ruled the earth when the first scriptures were written. Later other forms of government appeared when what we call the New Testament scriptures were recorded. Perhaps it is the influence of the movie industry, but I see the days of the kings from a certain noble perspective. Armor, shields, swords, spears, horsemen and cavalry all in great processions when the king wants to make a statement. I imagine waves of such troops with the king on the battlefield, as a means of protection, to instill fear into the enemy, and even to destroy the enemy. What a sight that must have been in the days of King David. But what about today?

We see in the scripture that we are today in a fight for our lives. The difference is, the outcome is already known. We serve not a king but the King of kings. It makes me wonder who are the troops and how do they battle. In Psalm 68:24-26 it states that this procession, these warriors, are those that give praise to the King. They are lead by the singers, the dancers and flag waivers are in the midst, and the players on instrument follow. In verses 4-5 we see a sample of what they sing that destroys the enemies. They extol Him and His name, the One that rides on the clouds. He is the defender of the fatherless and the widows. He helps families. He delivers those in bondage from bondage in to prosperity. Our praises are our chief weapon, and our King enforces our words on our enemies! Praise God!

Prayer
Praise unto the mighty and holy King of kings! His name is above all names. Him alone will we serve. Let our enemies be scattered as our God arises at the sound of our praise! Crush our enemies God that Your kingdom might be made manifest in the earth, and that men might turn their hearts to You! In Jesus name. Amen.

Where the Battle Rages

Some days I find myself anxious to do battle with the enemy of our souls. Other days not so much. In thinking about this, it seemed puzzling that the same person in basically the same situation could have completely different reactions and responses to life. What is it that causes us to one day be encouraged to fight the good fight of faith and the next to be in fear? One answer could be to determine where the battle largely takes place. The primary battleground seems to be the mind.

Our mind is just that – ours. The tough challenge is it seems to always be “running”. For me if I am awake there is a fairly constant stream of thoughts running through my mind. So what can I do to win the battle in the mind? We know from the example of Moses that we can lift up our hands and offer thanksgiving to God (Exodus 17:11). In so doing, He turns to us and fights on our side. Paul and Moses both encouraged us to speak the things of God as a method of power in our lives, even unto salvation (Deuteronomy 30:14; Romans 10:8) . Paul also frequently encouraged us to speak and sing to ourselves the positive things of God (Ephesians 5:19). As we do this, we begin to turn the battle in our mind, and we release God’s power in the earth. We become the warriors we were created to be, fighting against evil with God at our side.

Prayer
Father, we lift our hands and hearts to You. Deliver us and those around us from the wicked. Let the evil one fall. You alone are God and worthy of every praise. You alone defend the poor, the afflicted and the fatherless from the evil one. We stand with You in these things, praising You and speaking Your words. We will do what we see You doing, to Your glory and honor forever. In Jesus name. Amen.

Life Will Have Battles

As I awoke this morning I thought of upcoming challenges that are before me. It gave me an opportunity to be afraid, because they are real events. It also gave me an opportunity to pray and ask God how to get through these events. As I thought of these things, it occurred to me that God has not said that we would not have battles with the enemy. He has said that He would deliver us. I was trying to understand what that meant and thought of some of the great battles in scripture where God fought either along side or for His people.

In II Chronicles 20 Jahaziel the prophet stood up and said the battle was God’s, not to fear. This is the only record of Jahaziel prophesying. Jehoshaphat put the musicians out front to sing and praise God. They believed what God had spoken through the little known prophet. The result: by the time they arrived, the enemies had killed and destroyed each other. What is interesting to note is that the troops, armed to the teeth and ready to enter into the battle to the death, were there as well right behind the musicians – they were serious about warfare. This is an example of God fighting for us.

In Joshua 5 and 6 we see that the Commander of the Army of the Lord appeared to Joshua at the time of the battle of Jericho. They were instructed to march around the city for six days blowing the trumpets, and on the seventh day the same with shouting. The Commander said the walls would fall and the city would be theirs to take. They did as directed, and when the walls fell, the heavily armed warriors ran forward and killed everything in front of them. This is an example of God fighting along side us.

The point here is, God has declared us the winner, before the battle begins. We only need to serve Him and seek His face and direction. Praise God!

Prayer
Father, King of the Universe, I ask that You send Your Commander today to fight on behalf of our people. Let the whole world know, as said Solomon at the dedication of the temple, that You are God, You alone are God, through the deliverance of Your people. We are Your temple on the earth today. Give us the faith to trust in You. To God be all glory and honor and power! In Jesus name. Amen.

Darkness does not care for the light. We are children of the light. When life’s struggles become overwhelming, we can take our ball and go home, or choose to fight. The fight I am referring to is not with flesh and blood. It is with the dark spiritual forces that attempt to overwhelm us. The Psalms contain many spiritual songs that tell tales of battling the evil one. They did it then, we are called to do it now.

This morning as I awoke from a dream God gave me a scripture. I was praying about certain seemingly harsh battles I am facing, and harsh battles others I know are facing as well. The scripture was Psalm 118:13 Thou hast thrust sore at me [or pushed me hard] that I might fall: but the Lord helped me. We must resist the devil and he will flee.

Prayer
Father, I ask in Jesus name that You now rise up for us as You did for the children of Israel in the desert, and even before that, at the first passover. God, rise up and smite the gods of Egypt as in the scriptures. Strike down those that oppress. Deliver us from there evil plans to blot out Your name and take our land and our homes. Grind them to powder and send them in a whirlwind. In Jesus name, Father, do this quickly. Amen.

The life we lead can take us into familiar territory, or into the unknown. The constant we have as believers is God – He is our Shield and Buckler. God is on our side. This is true in good times. It is also true as we walk through the tougher times. As we traverse the Valley of Baca, the Valley of Weeping (like the balsam trees weep as they suffer the wind), we make pools in a desolate place (Psalm 84). How do we do that? By standing with our God who does not with hold any good thing. In fact, we can battle the enemy of our souls. Our enemy is as real as it gets, and he is out to kill, steal and destroy us (John 10). But if we listen and respond to God, He will stand and fight our battles. He will give us the words we need to push away our spiritual enemies in our spiritual battles that change the real world we live in.

In Psalm 83:4-5 we read that the enemies of God try to destroy us in an attempt to blot out His name and His inheritance in the earth. And what are we to pray to battle the evil one? In verses 13-18 we read that we are to ask for them to be ground to dust, spread before the whirlwind, and brought to shame until the acknowledge that He is God. And why should we do such battle? In verse 18, we do it so that all may know that God is the Lord of all! Praise God!

Prayer
Father, look upon us and remember Your word and Your promise. Do not let our enemies blot out Your inheritance. Rise up, and crush the enemies of our souls, that all men might know, that You truly are God of all! Amen.