"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!

 

"Stop Giving Away Control"

"When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid."  1 Samuel 17:11

 

Yesterday we talked about having God-given control, power and authority over sin or anything in our lives.  Whatever it may be-- the devil, other people, our own lusts, wicked desires, sinful habits, bad attitudes, fear, resentment, anger, etc.--  it can have no control over us unless we give it control.  They have no power over us unless we relinquish it to them. 

 

So, how do we relinquish the authority we have over our own lives?  How do we give up control to something or someone else?  By tolerating it.  By allowing it to stay.  By trying to exist with it.  By trying to co-habitate with it. 

 

The Bible has a good illustration of this.  When the Israelites were in battle with the Philistines, each day the giant Goliath would come out and taunt them.  What did the Israelites do?  They did nothing.  They tolerated the giant.  They sat back and allowed him to continue each day to defy the army of God and intimidate them.  They had given him control. 

 

King Saul was anointed by God.  The army was God's chosen people.  God was on their side.  He was with them.  He had fought many times before for them.  He had called them to victory already.  He gave them power over the Philistines and their giant champion.  Yet, they did not take control over the situation-- they put up with it. 

 

Are you God's child?  Are you born again?  Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?  Then you have been given power and authority by God over all the powers of the enemy.  You have an anointing on your life that will set captives free-- including yourself.  Your strength comes from the Lord who gives you His strength, and He has no weakness.  Whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven.  Whatever you loosen on earth is loosened in heaven.  When you say to this mountain to be removed, it is removed.  You can do all things through Christ who infuses you with His strength and power.  But whatever sin, enemy or attitude is "taunting" you, it will not go away unless you take control/authority over it.  As long as you tolerate it, it will continue.  As long as you allow it to stay, it will.  You have to take control over it or it will take control over you.  It will make you its captive.  It will put you in bondage.  It will keep you from living victoriously.  It will destroy you in the end.

 

Have a great day.  You can't co-habitate with what you should be taking authority over.  You have to take authority over it and stop tolerating it or it will destroy you.          

"I Ain't Doing It"

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."  Philippians 4:13

 

I am sure most of you have seen the videos on the internet by a lady who uses an app that changes her appearance and voice.  She addresses some "ridiculousness" that is out there.  At the end of the video she always says, "I ain't doing it".  As I was in prayer yesterday, all of a sudden I heard her voice say, "I ain't doing it".  (God can use weak and foolish things to confound the wise.)  I was praying about the things/sins that we tolerate in our lives when I had this "picture" of her saying that.

We need to get an, "I ain't doing it" attitude where sin is concerned.  To bitterness we need to say, "I ain't doing it".  To anger, evil thoughts, lusts, unforgiveness, bad attitude and negativity we need to say, "I ain't doing it".  To complaining, gossiping, murmuring and backbiting we need to say, "I ain't doing it".  To besetting sins we need to say, "I ain't doing it".

We have control over the sins, wrong attitudes and negativity that we allow in our lives.  We have heard the phrase, "The devil made me do it".  No, he didn't.  He may have given opportunity for you to do it; he may have made suggestions; but he didn't MAKE you do it.  You did it because "every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed". (James 1:14)

You have control over what you think, say and do.  You can control sin in your life.  It waits at the door and you can either open it or leave it closed.  If it comes in, it is because you opened the door and let it in.  We need to remember that we have control, we have been given authority, we have been given the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  Nobody can make you sin.  You make the choice to either sin or not.  When you do, it is because you have given up your control-- you have given up your God-given authority.  If this is you, take back "control".  Go to Jesus and repent.  Yield and submit to the leading and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  Put on your spiritual armor and take up the Sword of the Spirit and begin to proclaim--- "In the Name of Jesus... I ain't doing it!"

Have a great day.  You need to take control back and determine that... "I ain't doing it".   
 

"The Key"

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."  Matthew 6:33

 

The word key has many definitions.  One definition is: a thing that provides a means of gaining access to or understanding something.  The synonyms for this definition are:  answer, clue, solution, explanation.  There are keys (answers) to problems, situations, life's challenges, encounters, etc., all around us.  Such as:  the key to happiness is...; the key to a good marriage is...; the key of victory is...; and so on.

 

God gives us one key that is the answer to all of our problems, all of our relationships, all the blessings, to happiness, joy, wisdom, whatever we need He has one key that is the solution for it all.  The key is found in the verse above.

 

When we seek first the Lord, all that we need is provided.  If we need direction, seek Him first the direction we need will be there for us.  If we need wisdom, seek Him first, and wisdom will be added to us.  If we need strength, seek the Lord first and we will gain strength. 

 

We are trying to find all of our answers in external things, in people, in material things, in our own reasoning, in education, in philosophy, in temporary things.  But if we will lay that aside and seek the Lord first, above all these others, then we now have the key to unlock all of our answers.  God is faithful to His Word and when we apply this Word, the promise attached to it will be given us. 

 

Have a great day.  Do you need an answer?  That answer/key is to seek the Lord first and then your answer will come. 

"Where Is Thanksgiving?"

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."  1 Thessalonians 5:18

I would like to wish you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving.

I noticed that many businesses and individual have already had their Christmas decorations up for several weeks.  It appears as though they just skipped Thanksgiving altogether.  Some have even stopped calling it Thanksgiving and now call it "Turkey Day".  Where is thanksgiving?

It is so easy for us to get caught up in the cares of life, in the problems that we face, in the flow of society, in our own personal trials and in daily responsibilities that we can easily allow thanksgiving to disappear from our lives.  I am not talking about the holiday, I am talking about a thankful heart and its expression in our words and actions.

I hope when you are asked the question, "Where is thanksgiving?", that you are able to say that you know exactly where it is.  It is in your heart and spoken from your mouth.  If you have lost a thankful heart in the midst of life, I hope that you will find it again and take every opportunity and in everything to give thanks to the Lord for all the many wonderful blessings He bestows upon you daily. 

Have a great day.  Have you lost your thanksgiving?