"THE LORD IS WITH YOU, BRAVE AND MIGHTY MAN!"
ZOE: If I may ask, why has all this happened to us if the LORD is with us? What happened to all the wonderful things that the LORD told us He would accomplish in our midst and in our lives? What happened to all the words of promises He declared to us through the revelation knowledge of His word and prophecies, and still, small voice of His Spirit? I can understand if it were to be the time when we made our moves and decisions outside the jurisdiction of His will and purpose. Or in time past when we lived according to the dictate of sinful carnality as children of disobedience. But now that His word, will and purpose has been firmly established in our lives, and we are being led and inspired by His Spirit, and we are engulfed by His zeal and love, why is it that more often than not things doesn't seem be to working right. After all we've been through for His sake, the breakthroughs He so much assured us of seems to be eluding us. It appears the LORD has abandoned us and left us at the mercy of the the evil ones...............
SHARON: Not really, Zoe. You've got to realize one fact. For the simple fact you are moving in line with the will of God and acting in line with His directives does not immune you from challenges and trials (Isaiah 50:10). In fact, once in a while you might come across walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-21). Rest assured, they will fall and crumble. Avoid plunging headlong into rash decisions and actions based on heavy reliance on your instinct, feelings or carnal trend. Be willing to approach His throne with confidence and sincerity. Approach Him with an open and empty heart. Be receptive and show willingness to hear and obey.
ZOE: But then what about when He gives His consent and go-ahead? When He declares "I Myself am sending you?" At times, I feel weak, small and little. I tend to feel inferior as the thought of the challenges ahead tends to berate my God-ordained status as a conqueror.
SHARON: You sound very much like Gideon when the LORD ordered him, "Go with all your great strength and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I Myself am sending you." (Judges 6:11 - 16)
ZOE: And what was Gideon's reply?
SHARON: Gideon replied, "But Lord, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least important member of my family." Guess what the LORD said?
ZOE: What did He say?
SHARON: The LORD answered, "You can do it because I will help you. You will crush the Midianites as easily as if they were only one man." (Judges 6:16). Don't forget what David said to Goliath before he prevailed over the Philistine. "I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty God... This very day the LORD will put you in my power; ... I will defeat you... Then the whole world will know that Israel has a God, He is victorious in battle, and He will put you all in our power." (I Samuel 17:45 - 47) When God promised Abraham and his descendants that the world would belong to him, He did so because he believed and was accepted as righteous by God. So the promise was based on faith, in order that the promise should be guaranteed as God's free gift. The promise was good in the sight of God, in whom Abraham believed and hoped, even when there was no reason for hoping. He was then almost 100 years old; but his faith did not weaken when he thought of his body, which was already practically dead, or of the fact that Sarah could not have children. His faith did not leave him, and he did not doubt God's promise. His faith filled him with power, and he gave praise to God. He was absolutely sure that God would be able to do what he had promised. That is why Abraham, through faith, was accepted as righteous by God. (Romans 4:1 - 25. Hebrew 10:36)
ZOE: But Gideon did ask for a sign from God.
SHARON: That's right. And he got one. But be careful Zoe. The LORD is under no compulsion to give you signs / supernatural occurrences to drive home His point. Faith takes care of that. Signs, miracles and wonders are meant to lend credence to the truth of His word and also to strengthen your belief in His truth. God, no doubt, will make Himself real to you through His word. Respond with actions of faith based on revelation knowledge of His word - whether or not you see or hear anything to make it look or sound real. You are not moved by what you see, hear, perceive, or think. You are only moved by the word of God.
ZOE: Even when the LORD gives us the go-ahead in a particular direction, how about the challenges and obstacles in the way?
SHARON: Of course, there are challenges. Challenges usually arise when you are moving in the path ordained and approved by the LORD (though it may fall short of the approval and expectation of men). When the Joshua the High Priest stood before the angel of the Lord, there beside Joshua stood Satan ready to bring an accusation / opposition against him. The angel of the LORD pronounced condemnation and rebuke on Satan. "May the Lord condemn you, Satan!" (Zechariah 3:1 - 5). The LORD assured Zerubbabel, "Obstacles as great as mountains will disappear before you. You will rebuild the Temple, and as you put the last stone in place, the people will shout, 'Beautiful, beautiful, grace, grace!!... Zerubabbel has laid the foundation of the Temple, and he finish the building. When this happens, my people will know that it is I who sent you to them. They are disappointed because so little progress is being made. But they will see Zerubbabel continuing to build the Temple, and they will be glad." (Zechariah 4:6 - 10) Should you have course to come across walls of Jericho, relax and don't panic. Endeavour to hear His voice to tell you what to do. Then do it with faith and watch the walls fall. Same goes to the red seas. They will no doubt part and you shall walk through on dry grounds. "Do not be afraid - I will save you. I have called you by name - you are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you." (Isaiah 43:1 - 2). Then will you be a living testimony, a worthy instrument, purified, and tried and true.
ZOE: That's right! Glory be to God for the truth and effect of His word. Now I am ready and set. I want to go out there and let the LORD prove Himself to the world through me! Thanks be to God for you.
SHARON: Oh that was nothing. All glory and adoration goes to our God the Father of light. May He continue to shed the light of His word into our hearts and through the activity of His Spirit perfect and achieve His purpose.
ZOE: Amen!
God bless.
Yours
Adekunle O. Majek'
H I A F E M
Of impact, quality and excellence
That's the Spirit!
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