Showing posts with label Caleb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caleb. Show all posts

Friday, April 24, 2020

Anyone Can Defeat a Dead Giant!

Remember David and Goliath, yes the one listed in the Old Testament, the young man who would slay the giant Goliath and one day be king? Well, it would be sometime before David would face that door when the kingdom would be under his rule, and he still had much life before him, days to serve his father while his brothers served the King!
Yes, anyone could defeat a dead giant, but how about that living, walking, and arrogant speaking mouth that will not shut up, but only breathes only hate and defiance of the God in you?

Was reading an article today that talked of "giants" and their wreck on society, still I do not think the church body thinks about the "giants" allowed to live within the church. When Joshua and Caleb went to spy out the promised land of Canaan, they saw giants, but they also saw what grew there that was "biggy" sized for those on the outside to see when looking in to what "this" land was capable of producing. If you remember there were those who came back with a bad report on the land and its people! God had told them of the giants in the land and that they would have to dealt with.

Have we taken into account that which was uncommon in most of David's age at the time of this encounter with a giant?  Do we consider that David, and like many today are being harassed much like David was by his own brother, the older and still move to stop that which is harassing the church or believers in God? We see governors harassing their citizens by trying to limit their rights of the Constitution that was written to hold people accountable to right's of the people and not to a few bureaucrats who hunger for leadership! Those who are power hunger take to using their bull horn for intimidating others by any illogical means to hold a person or group in shutdown! There are those who will use that opportunity against others to have their own way, their own agenda.

If you remember the giant Goliath stood against to defy the armies of Israel. 1 Samuel 17: 14 David was the youngest. And the three oldest followed Saul. 15 But David occasionally went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem. 16 And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. 17 Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take now for your brothers an ephah of this dried grain and these ten loaves, and run to your brothers at the camp. 18 And carry these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand, and see how your brothers fare, and bring back news of them."


1 Samuel 17:19-54…………… 19 Now Saul and they and all the men of Israel were in the Valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.
20 So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle. 21 For Israel and the Philistines had drawn up in battle array, army against army.
          *  David rose early to do the father’s bidding
          *  David left his sheep in the hands of the keeper
          *  David took the food and went as Jesse commanded him
          *  David had order in his life

22 And David left his supplies in the hand of the supply keeper, ran to the army, and came and greeted his brothers. 23 Then as he talked with them, there was the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, coming up from the armies of the Philistines; and he spoke according to the same words. So David heard them. 24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid. 25 So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, & give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel." 26 Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" 27 And the people answered him in this manner, saying, "So shall it be done for the man who kills him."  David was now rehearsing what the men of Israel spoke in regard to the three things done for the man who slew Goliath


1 Samuel 17: 28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against ( his anger was one of arrogance when he spoke of David’s pride and insolence)David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle." 
Yes, Eliab had some issues...and the oldest was not willing to stand before Goliath, but he also used his position to intimidate his younger brother....to stand down! No, this was not the time to be intimidated!

 Remember that David was anointed in 1 Samuel 16:13….how Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers and the Holy Spirit came on him in power...for a future event, the future king) 

1 Samuel 17: 29 And David said, "What have I done now? Is there not a cause?" 30 Then he turned from him toward another and said the same thing; and these people answered him as the first ones did.
31 Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. 32 Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." 33 And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."   This battle was not David’s battle
34 But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God." 37 Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Now  David has told of his up close and personal encounters with the enemy: he mentions the paw of the lion and paw of the bear ( viewed as a conflict of interest)  It is a place of violence spoken of you and about you and involves you and will appear as a rolling in the dust!  It will attack your character and your voice in what you give in regard to God, our Lord and to His word!                                                                                                                                 WILL we have an outcome of something or someone coming against your person, will it be about shutting you down and if you are ruled by emotions, then it will be a probable defeat. OUR faith is that which resides in God  WHO is our righteousness, & we  know without doubt that His truth prevails in our lives, & we stand firm in the faith voicing freely God and His love to others.
          


 Saul said to David, "Go,& the LORD be with you!" 38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, & he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor, & he tried to walk, for he had not tested them. & David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off.    40 Then he took his staff in his hand( remember the promises of God); & he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, & put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, & his sling was in his hand. & he drew near to the Philistine. 41 So the Philistine came, and began drawing near to David, & the man who bore the shield went before him. 42 And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him; for he was only a youth, ruddy & good-looking. 43 So the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 & the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, & I will give your flesh to the birds of the air & and the beasts of the field!"    

45 Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, & with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, & I will strike you & take your head from you.
 And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, & He will give you into our hands."
48 So it was, when the Philistine arose & came and drew near to meet David, that….  David hastened & ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 Now the men of Israel & Judah arose & shouted, & pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley & to the gates of Ekron. & the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath & Ekron. 53 Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, & they plundered their tents. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine & brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. NKJV  


 The "Philistine" is one meaning "unclean spirit". They manifest in different ways, but one main quick attack is through that which tries to "silent mouths" ...that is to shut a mouth so it will not speak for God.                                         The open door was the encounter with Goliath and it was through Eliab’s anger as he testified and confirmed his hate when he told David that he David had insolence and pride. In Goliath, we see one wanting to shut their mouths & scare the nation of Israel away! Eliab accused David of pride but did not mention Goliath's pride and arrogance!
Another thing to pay attention to: an unclean spirit will target your testimony of victory in the Lord and the goodness of God in our lives!
Another manifested form of an unclean spirit that pertains to and is of a performing nature, like Goliath will be that parading around on the merit of  their size… and will display "that"  big mouth. 


Have you seen people who are there just to perform and not minister anything? No life, and no good word comes out of them, but they speak of me, myself and I …....IN Scripture unclean means "to be the defiled, to be the polluted, unwholesome," … readily refers to foods that are unfit, defilement can be of a religious character, and moral or spiritual impurity.  In the New Testament we find a spiritual application. Listed as uncleanness or moral defilement with fornication plus other sins as works of the flesh from Galatians 5:19-21.

David spoke this in verse 47: 47  "Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."
And in verse 51….David runs over, takes the sword from the sheath of Goliath and uses it against him.


David was a youth who did an uncommon thing! David was led by the Spirit of God! David knew his strength was in God alone! He joined the king to stand against the enemy who wanted to destroy Israel. Will we stand with our leader, the President of the United States, and speak truth and declare God's word over him and the people of this nation or will we bicker over his uses of Twitter, he is this or he is that? If you live in another country, will you stand with justice that is of God and peace for the man who desires God to lead the nation or take that which is destruction for all?
David join the cause of the nation that God wanted Goliath gone and protect His nation. And David ran to the battle, he ran to face the giant and deliver the blow to the enemy. Will we not see that God is about this nation and has been speaking about making it the cause, not the church building ,but that His people will stand as a nation under one God to speak and declare always His truths that was given us through Jesus Christ?

You and I should not be fearful in this day and in this hour! In David we saw the faith he had in God, he went in His name and the God of the armies of Israel.
David told of those who spoke against God, who defied Him! In his speaking, David affirmed that the LORD would deliver the enemy into his hand. He also included the entire camp of Philistines for destruction to be food for the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth.

David understood, that the “battle is the Lord’s.”   Every time he took up his shepherd’s staff, David could read the promise God had for him from it. For the Shepherds staff was marked (or carved) with every good thing God had done for him. David walked with the promise in his heart.                                                                                          
Deuteronomy 31:6 in the Amplified Bible, “ be strong, courageous and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you.”  
The courageous do not have to pretend. They have this undaunted courage. They have no fear, they have no discouragement. They are armed with the Presence of God and they go forward into their tomorrow knowing God is with them!

Giants speak against the life in God! They like to take rights away from those who know God and trust in Him. They are of the spiritual realm who will use people in different arenas of life. But you and I are to be confident in our speaking by faith. We are to be active, with that willing heart who has spent time in prayer and is disciplined in the Word of God to speak it plainly!
                                                                                             
God has given us His Holy Spirit to not fear.  He has given us power, love, and a sound mind to prevail in all situations. Holding fast the pattern of sound words & always cultivating a relationship with His Holy Spirit that propels us into the power of God for signs and wonders.
We hold onto Christ; for we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." ( Heb.3:14-15)

Father, in Jesus name, we pray that You will show us and help us realize any area where any performance done in the flesh is purely taxing to our strength! We pray to be those who will see all is done in You our Father God and in Your name for Your glory, for we  really do not want to become the exhausted ones crying in the corner! For there is a cause, and we so badly need You. We require Your help and we know that YOU will not leave us without strength.

Father , we pray to be released into our spheres of authority where we are the empowered to demonstrate that the Kingdom of God has come & daily may we be the renewed, and powered up in godly authority.
May the river run through us so that the watercourses that refreshes will feed the willows and will have that continual flow daily!

Father, thank You for the Spirit that is life because of righteousness.  Father, may we bear fruit in that which the Holy Spirit teaches us.  He opens our minds, guides us, calls us to prayer & He does this so that we become those powered in have the momentum for work in the these the last days. 

Father You have helped us see that we are not just “ the saved ones”, but those who have the indwelling Holy Spirit Who Empowers us to do exploits. Lead us….now….Holy Spirit. Help us to delight in building momentum praying in the Holy Spirit.    Your peace has the strength to root out, root up & demolish every single work of darkness that is meant to keep God's kingdom from advancing.   

Father, thank You for Your peace that is not only our refuge, but is also THE weapon against the enemy.   Father we thank You for courage to stand in the face of any enemy whether as of a report of sickness, personal conflict to believers, with those on the outside, or a family situation or trial & know that You the Father of Light have given us Your knowledge & Your wisdom! Thank You Father for hearing! We receive instruction to move forward when a giant may appear. We expect Your peace to continue in our lives IN JESUS' NAME. We will guard that peace and hold it in our hearts governed by the love of God. AMEN.


New teaching at: Voice of Prayer  
A Living Hope, A Living Christ 

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells
When Kingdom Authority Conflicts with the World

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Out in the Wilderness

Ever thought of Moses, a man brought up in a palace and who lived most of his life in the wilderness?  Seriously, he was born Hebrew of slaves under the rule of a Pharaoh and whose people were all "slave" workers who had to build with straw and mud. Lifted out of water to become the son of Pharaoh's daughter, and being protected by God. For whatever his Hebrew name was, only his parents would have known, for he was renamed Moses by the Princess! Educated in all things taught, yes, by Janees and Jimbrees. Remember them? But ultimately Moses was taught their "wisdom". He was certainly kept from harm.  He was protected by God Himself to see a day when Moses would serve God's purposes!

But seriously, have you known someone who lived in the "lap of luxury"? Like Moses, even from his birth, it looked like the devil was trying to kill him! Taken as a small baby from his family to live in a palace and learn the ways of the Egyptians. That was a "big cost" to the family who gave birth to him and loved him dearly.   Moses, the one drawn out of the water, to live in a palace and learn the ways of the Egyptians and to one day hide in the wilderness, tend to sheep and see and be 'in awe of' a burning bush' that was never consumed. It was his command from God that would take place "out in the wilderness".

Now I am certain you have had heard many teachings on this scripture passage, but I totally believe Moses could not go forward with God's plan till God commanded it to be so.

Are we zealous for the Lord, but not in the right manner to stay safe within the borders of God's protection? In the beginning, Moses, was jumping too fast and too far to rescue those he was sent to rescue. In so doing in an out of order fashion, he ran for his life. He ran from his past of palaces, and good food, to a lifestyle from prince to peasant!  And he ran to Midian, a place in the wilderness. He ran from strife he entered in with two men in the city and ended up in the Midian, the place meaning "strife".
It was a big change in scenery for Moses!
Moses changed his clothes from the lifestyle he knew to something he knew nothing about. He changed his location, and entire life and God came to speak with him. What will God do for us, when we give something up that we do not need in our lives?

Then we come to the burning bush! Exodus 3:1-12..............3:1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." 4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." 5 Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." 6 Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.

7 And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." 11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" 12 So He said, "I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." NKJV

When we moved out west, we had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people who love the Lord. In all our times at church and meetings and conferences, we saw people with a heart for God. But for me, I saw two women who would always stand out to me. One lady was probably about 15 years older than me, could quote the Bible and knew so much of the Lord's walk on this earth. I always had some kind of question for her.

Another lady was about 9 years younger than I. These two women certainly were those who were fire to me. They knew the Word of God and loved to pray. They had story after story of the absolute goodness of God and His Love! One always had testimonies of healing and wholeness restored to those she prayed for and the other had testimony after testimony of prayer and Bible studies in the Jail Ministry. She would tell of those receiving Jesus for the first time ever. Well, my first thought was to stay within the confines of four walls and safety and learn much from the older lady, but no, I knew when the latter woman spoke of Jail Ministry, that was my burning bush moment. I had to follow the course that God had set for me. And my getting of the badge to enter jail for ministry certainly took less time than any one else had experienced before. Yes, I had favor with those who worked in the jail and learned not to fear as God was with me. I got that new badge, reported to the "metal detector" and headed for Chapel. I was being trained under leadership that would take me places I had not been before.

I know for many, that just the slamming of all those metal doors makes one shake and quake, but I knew I was going in with the Word of God and no one could leave till chapel was done. Yes, we were all locked in together, and God would have His way in that place.

I thought of Moses, and his ability to teach Joshua. He trained him so much so, that Joshua became his successor. Both Moses and Joshua had a walk with God. Both were born in Egypt, experienced the Exodus together, escaped slavery through God our Redeemer, walked in the wilderness and saw the "new Land". Although Moses did not enter Canaan, he trained someone who could take it further according to God's plan.
Much like these two, I was trained by a great lady. She so loved the Lord and gave her all for His kingdom and it showed in what she did and what she spoke!   When this great leader left this Outreach Ministry, another was in charge, and she took a new approach, "a little more country style" but no less powerful. She too, loved the Lord and together we saw many come to the Lord in salvation. When she left, a lot of the team, (99.9 percent of them went with her). But God showed me to stay and take the land. I stayed, "much like the cheese stands alone thing" if anyone remembers those days, but prayerful a team came together and was multiplied with me leading.  It was an Outreach Ministry that God raised up Himself! And I was excited to be in front to see it all come to His plan.

Yikes! How did I get here? Well, I saw the moment the command came. Much like Moses, his command came when God told him in Exodus 3 and verse 10..."so now, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."


Like Joshua, I too, had to lead others. I wanted to do it in the way that people would know that they were truly valued like Moses did with Joshua. So I finish with this: When Joshua got the command from God through Moses...........Joshua 1:6-9................6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."  NIV

Joshua was told to be strong and courageous. I too, had to be strong and courageous. And God was with Joshua and with me. We are told that Joshua and people he led came to the Jordan River.
Yes, it is the next morning............command to go, and Joshua broke camp at Shittim and moved down to the edge of the Jordan which at this time is out of its banks because it is time of the harvest...........the river overflowed...............Yes, Let' make our entrance! (see in Joshua 3:15)

It was on the third day that the people were instructed to march forward...........river flooding in front of us..........what........? what are you saying.........."march forward"! The people moved in order, with the priests bearing the Ark in the lead, and when their came to middle of the flooding river, the waters divided. Now some of the commentaries I have read, even state that the water did not part till the priests were in the middle of the swollen river! (well, that meant that muddy water and debris went over their heads. And they had to hold the Ark of the Covenant above their heads to keep it out of the water and debris) As the waters parted and pushed back for a distance in both directions, the priests remained in the middle of the dry ground till all of Israel had passed by to the Promised Land. Then as soon as the priests moved over and touched the dry ground of the "new land",  the waters returned to overflow it banks as before. (Joshua 4:1-18)

We are to see and hear when God commands us to go. We are to be growing in the knowledge of God………..always growing, being renewed to His way and His doing of things. Will we go for Him, or will we choose comfort, safety and gain no ground for His kingdom? Are we waiting for fall season to arrive……..and children to go back to school?    Will the world’s schedule always interfere with God’s plan for us.? Will there always be a lion in the street, and the Jordan always be overflowing its banks?
Not everything will be done in the city behind four walls! We have to see that place we are called! 
In summation, God can use each of us. Whether born in a palace or bondage, born with a different skin color, born male or female, born in the city or the country, and does not matter whether you are young or old, divorced, short, tall, heavy, thin or bald, God has a plan for each of us! Be like Joshua and know that you are a conqueror! God is more than enough, more powerful to get His plan accomplished..........we just need to say "YES"!

Father, we want to be doing what You have asked us to do! I ask You to help us to see the "burning bush" We do not want to jump ahead to the next thing without completing the "new thing" before us! I pray that we would be those who desire to see Your kingdom expand. We pray to be those who are strong and courageous to inherit that YOU swore to give to us. We look not to turn to the right or to the left but that we would keep our eyes on YOU. Truly Your word will not depart from our mouths. We set ourselves to meditate on it day and night to be careful to everything written therein. We understand that YOU will be with us wherever we go...........YOU have sent us to heal the broken-hearted and to bind up their wounds. According to Joshua 23:9-13.......we believe and hold fast that you have driven out nations before us and that no one will be able to stand against us this day. We extend our love and thanks to YOU and receive with whole hearts that good land which the Lord our God has given us in Jesus Name. Amen (Joshua 23.13)




You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV 





Is Culture Only Rubbish?

  Philippians 3:7-9   NKJV   7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things l...