Is there a step of faith with which God could use you to free up an “army”? Before you dismiss the thought with a “who am I?” please read on.
“Who do you think you are? What do you think you can accomplish?” These “taunts” (from the last post) remind me of Goliath’s (and even David’s brother’s). The “look of impossibility” against the likes of Goliath dismayed and produced great fear in a whole army who heard him take his stand every morning and evening for forty days (1 Sam. 17:11, 16, 24).
David, who had only been sent to take his brothers some food, came upon the scene and saw it for what it was and asked, “What will 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 taunt the armies of the living God?” (1 Sam. 17:26)
And God’s victory through David’s courageous actions FREED A WHOLE ARMY that day, an army that had been distracted and stopped in their tracks for 40 days by “taunts” (by a “taunter”).
There is a lot of taunting of the “armies of the living God” these days, and how much do we just take at face value, agree with, succumb and surrender to rather than realizing that it is a ridiculous spiritual battle? It’s “ridiculous” because it looks so ominous, BUT in Christ you already own the victory.
The question today is “WHEN WILL the army of the living God stop being frightened and RISE UP in His strength and power – to overcome the taunts and save those who have been taken captive by fear?”
When?
Satan has plans to keep us unproductive and to thwart the work of God in and through our lives, but we are not unaware of his schemes (2 Cor. 2:11). Rather than entertain or bow down to the taunts, we must take them captive (2 Cor. 10:5) and extinguish (Eph. 6:16) them. Satan is always a liar (John 8:44); therefore, we must know the truth of the Word of God! If we are not armed with the Lord’s unadulterated truth directly from His inspired Word (the truth of how we are to live and who we are called to be in Him), Satan’s persuasive lies (Col. 2:4) will be more effective and too easily steal (John 10:10) our courage and perseverance and render us ineffective.
What is ridiculously taunting you right now? Is it something that is keeping you from a step of obedience that God could use to free up others in some way?
Prayerfully consider if there is a course of action that God is leading you to that you need to rise up in bold courage and take the next known steps of obedience. Our obedience, or lack thereof, has ramifications for not only ourselves but also unknown others.
There are consequences to our obedience.
“And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:29, 30
Lord, raise up a bold, courageous army of believers who believe.
