July 15, 2010 When Kings Go Out To Battle

What jumped out at me today was a phrase I'd noticed before, but never thought to wonder about: in the spring of the year, at the time kings go out to battle.(1 Chronicles 20:1).  I wondered what the spiritual significance of this was, and I asked the Lord about it.  I was expecting to read about David's affair with Bathsheba, since the same phrase was used in that story.  I looked it up: it is 2 Samuel 11:1, but this was a different account of David.  In both accounts, it says that Joab went out against Ammon and besieged Rabbah, but that David stayed in Jerusalem in the spring of the year, at the time kings go out to battle.  Whether both accounts are the same period of time, I do not know.  It is not in the boundaries of this devotional that I do external research.  I will leave this mystery for later, and you can go study it for yourself if you wish.

One thing is clear, there are seasons when we should be battling the enemy, and if we're not, then we'll surely end up devastated.  Going from historical ignorance here, but not spiritual ignorance, I'd say it is quite possible that this was one particular time period in David's life.  It seems, from the way he took and wore the defeated king's crown instead of dedicating the gold to the Lord-- as he had always done before-- that he was falling into pride.  When we're prosperous and feel powerful and undefeatable, luxury and a feeling of complacency certainly have a way of leading us away from humility and hard work and into pride and laziness.  "Let other people do it; this is my due."

In our reading, although there is great time-compression in this chronicle, it is revealing to see what happened over the census David decided to do.  Pride again seems to be the open door here for the sinful choice he made.  "Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel." 1 Chroncles 21:1  The consequences for this were devastating, and God's judgment brought David to a place of humility again.  Pride and not fearing the Lord go hand in hand.  Pride is iniquity of the spirit, and it was Satan's downfall, remember-- he is particularly attuned to it and empowered by it.

In our individual lives, pride opens the door for the devil to steal, kill and destroy.  Resisting the devil requires submitting to God, and that requires humility.  (James 4:7) Humility is one of the best of our weapons of warfare.  In a nation's life, pride in the hearts of those in leadership (government) opens the door for satanic attack, and also God's judgment-- which falls on the people the government was supposed to bless and protect.  Rather than lash out in anger, it is wise for the people in a nation to humble themselves and pray for their leadership.  I've been convicted many times of not doing this seriously enough.  What I read in the Word today gives me strong incentive.

I still want more revelation about the time kings go out to battle.  It was in the spring.  To me that says it's the time when things that have already been planted and established are beginning to bud (spiritual or natural, and it's a different time for everyone).  That means that another harvest is on its way, and each harvest should be greater than the last (for a natural example-- a harvest from an apple orchard).  Satan wants to keep us and our life efforts from bearing any fruit;  if there's something established in our life that he hasn't been able to destoy, he's going to want to keep the harvest from happening:  "nip it in the bud."  Every spring, it's the same.  The bully wants to create a famine for us if he can.  If we're proud and lazy-- or simply don't have a clue --  we'll lose the fruit of our labors.  This was to be our provision, our offering to the Lord, and a blessing to the poor. 

You know spring is a reality, therefore you need to understand the season and go out to battle.  The person who has the initiative can take the high ground, or choose the most strategic battlefront.  Why wait for the devil to barge in and take what's yours (by the blessing of God and the work of your hands)?  You know he's just going to keep doing the same thing until he realizes it's futile.  So don't be proud, lazy or stupid!  Pick up your Sword and go out against him. 

June 16, 2010 Politics, Prophets and Provision

It's troubling to me to read about the dreadful split between Judah and Israel, and of the horrendous works of the evil kings.  It makes me sad to realize it was all due to Solomon's wandering heart and idolatry later in his life.  With all his wisdom, he should have known better.  It just goes to show that "you can fall from any level," as Rick Joyner said in The Final Quest.  How serious we need to be in maintaining the fear of the Lord, and a pure love for Him and His Word!

All the turmoil of those Old Testament days reminds me of modern times, even of American politics.  If you look just under the surface of current events, you will see the seeds of civil war.  The trouble is, so many of the issues are spiritual, just as they were back in Ahab's day.  God's people today seem to have just as much trouble in dealing with ungodliness in society and government as they did in Bible times.   Why is that, I wonder?  Do you think, perhaps, that most of us are just too concerned with trying to survive to do anything to confront the evils that are trying to gain power over us, individually and as a nation?  [and I'm not talking about "rebellion," I'm talking about submitting to God and following Him.]

In order to be free from evil domination, we will have to be willing to see what is really happening around us and to us.  We will have to be willing to see evil, not close our eyes to it.  Seeing it and liking it, or just going along with it (as well as simply closing our eyes to it), is what leads us into slavery.  Seeing it and hating it is the beginning of getting free. 

God expects us to love what He loves and hate what He hates.  This, of course, must be established in our own personal life, but after that, what?  I would say, no matter what, start with prayer.  Prayer is the launch pad.  None of us will know what He is doing, or what we ourselves are to do, without seeking the Lord in prayer.  If you don't really trust God, now's the time to dig down into the Word and get your roots planted into Him.  Every time you obey Him, you get a little more rooted.  You're going to have to trust Him in order to stand godly in the evil day.

The truth is, while Christ's Kingdom is being established on earth, the worldly kingdoms are crumbling.  Can you feel the foundations being shaken?  Do you see the chaos beginning to take hold of the world's systems?  Of course, all those with worldly power, not to mention the evil spiritual entities that hold sway over the nations, are trying to tighten their grip.  Controls will strengthen, and when people rebel against control, flattery will try to win them-- but only so that even greater control can be exercised.  There's no getting away from this.  It's the times we're in!  That's why it's so important to see the Kingdom of God and go for it.  It's time to see what kingdoms are what, and choose. 

Whatever you're called to do in the Kingdom of God, God has provision for you.  It takes a lot of courage to take a stand for God in evil times, or even to support one who openly does.  But as Jesus said, Be not afraid!  We saw how the Lord provided for Elijah-- He sent ravens to feed him!  Then He asked a poor widow to care for him, and miraculously provided for her too.  Not only was there enough food for them, but there was also provision for healing (her son was raised).  Even if the Lord were to call for judgments (such as famine) against an idolatrous nation, His people will be provided for if they will trust Him and obey Him. 

As we read in the story of Peter and Cornelius, the Lord even has communications covered: prayer, the leading of the Holy Spirit, visions, and angelic visitations will keep God's people "in the know" and the Kingdom of God running according to His plan.  And remember how Stephen got transported by the Spirit, and he just found himself somewhere?  Who needs cars, planes, cell phones and the internet when you have such efficient modes of communication and travel?  We might as well get used to it-- we're called to live in a supernatural Kingdom!  It's not science fiction, it's real!  We'll see more and more of it as the return of the King draws nearer.

I know it's normal to say, "Well, I'm not Elijah!  Maybe that guy over there is!" but each of us has been given a place of authority in our life, whether large or small; and in this place of rule, we are each called to declare the Word of the Lord and to resist evil, no matter what the apparent cost.  We must trust the Lord to provide all that is needed, even when the world from which we have been gaining our support is falling down around our ears.

"And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead." Acts 10:42

January 22, 2010

When I read the Matthew passage for today, I couldn't help thinking of Haiti. Jesus had compassion on the multitudes and healed their sick. Then when they needed food, he multiplied the loaves and fish. I think we don't have much trouble seeing Jesus doing these things, if we believe in Him. But what if we could see ourselves doing these things?

Some people act like that's heresy, to say we could do what Jesus did. But He told the disciples, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." Matthew 14:16  He was trying to get them to see what He was passing on to them-- what He could do through them if they would just believe. Peter walked on the water-- he got a little glimpse.

Sometimes I think I have a little glimpse, but I'm not doing it yet. I see it though, and if we can see it we can go there! In a world so wracked by disasters, famine and pestilence the children of God are the ones who can deliver: everything that God is and has. I know this to be true. I am praying for it to come to fulfillment.