Thursday, November 30, 2017

"God's Got Your Back"

"And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands."  1 Samuel 17:47
 
The last couple of days we have been talking about how we have control over sin and unrighteous attitudes in our lives.  We have  God-given power and authority over them It doesn't have to control us.  Yesterday we said that nothing can control or have power over us unless we relinquish control to it.  We discovered how that happens.  It happens by allowing or tolerating that thing in our lives. 
 
We used the example of the Israelites going to battle with the Philistines and how their champion Goliath would come out daily and taunt them--  "If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.  And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together."  The Israelites and their king did nothing.  They allowed him to continue this day after day.  Why?  They were intimidated by his size.  They were fearful of him.  They were afraid that if they did send a man to fight him and he lost, they would wind up being the Philistines servants.  Little did they realize that they were already their "servants".  They already had control over them.  They didn't have it physically like they were afraid would happen if they lost, but nevertheless, they were already their "prisoners".  They were already held captive.  (Whatever you don't take control over, has already controlled you.  You are already its prisoner.)   
 
So what are we to do?  How do we take control?  How do we use our God-given authority and power?  How do we stop relinquishing control?  How do we stop tolerating and allowing it?  Read on in the story in 1 Samuel 17.  David came to the battleground one day.  While there Goliath came out as he did daily.  David saw that everyone was tolerating him, but he knew who His God was and who he was in His God.  He knew this was an enemy.  He asked the question-- "who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"  In other words, who does he think he is?  Does he think he is stronger than our God?  Does he think he is more powerful?  Does he think he can defeat Him?  Does he think he is the greater than God?  (Perhaps we should ask these same questions to the things that try to control us.)
 
David didn't tolerate this enemy.  He went out to fight him.  But he didn't fight him in his own strength, power and might.  "I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.  This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand."  We know the outcome-- God defeated the giant through David with nothing more than a rock and sling shot.  See how easily the enemy can be defeated if we will stop fearing it and use our God-given authority over it!  David didn't tolerate it and freedom and deliverance came for all of Israel.  
 
One of the problems I see with why we don't use our God-given authority and take control is because of lack of faith and trust in God and His Word.  The Israelite army and King Saul didn't believe God would give them the victory.  They didn't believe Goliath could be defeated-- even by God.  They didn't believe God would "back them up".  They forgot that God would fight the battle for them-- they thought it was up to them to defeat him.  David, on the other hand, went out with faith and trust in God-- "the Lord will deliver you into my hand".  He knew God would "have his back" and "back him up"--- and He did!  He will have your back too if you will stop tolerating the enemy and go against him in the Name, power and authority of the Lord.

Have a great day.  Stop tolerating it and go against it in the Name of the Lord.  God has your back!
 

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