Warriors Arise: November 23, 2021
Exodus 19:16-20 (NKJV) Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. 20 Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
When God calls you to come, do you go? I think we would all like to say, "Of course, I will go! Why would you even ask? That is a total no-brainer." I ask because there are people in the Bible called invited to meet with Him and they did not. I know we can get comfortable in the mundane of life and have no get-up-and-go. Things are good and we can sustain life right where we are, so we remain behind. We see that other people can handle the situation or the assignment so we let them even when we know God called us and we are to go. Two kings come to mind, Solomon aligns with the first example. He was comfortable. He had done great exploits with God. He had NEEDED God, when he became king. But 20 years later, he was established in his position and known throughout the world for his wisdom. He didn't commune with God and establish covenant.
1 Kings 9:1-9 (NKJV) And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he wanted to do, 2 that the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. 3 And the Lord said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 4 Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, 5 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’ 6 But if you or your sons at all turn from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them; and this house which I have consecrated for My name I will cast out of My sight. Israel will be a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and will hiss, and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and to this house?’ 9 Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore the Lord has brought all this calamity on them.’ ”
Nowhere in Scripture do we see Solomon worship God and burn sacrifices to show he was committing to this covenant. The first time God came to him, he responded with burnt offerings and worshiped God but not this time. There is nothing recorded. The next verse demonstrates that Solomon went on with business, but not with God. God came and met with Solomon, but he didn't need Him anymore. He was established. He was not afraid of his brothers. He was known around the world. He had no need for God. He could handle things from here.
How many of us have been in that situation? We called out to God. He met us, established us, and blessed us only to have us "take things from here." We would like to say we wouldn't, but I think most of us have identified with this or known someone who has. Now that you know me, you know someone who has. I am humbled by the grace God has been extended to me when I have been so…arrogant and full of myself. Thankfully, He got ahold of me and I realized it wasn't being full of myself that achieved anything of value. It was being full of God that moved the mountains, made way for the impossible to become possible.
Then we have King David's example. He let someone else do what He was called and positioned to do. He was no longer leading from the frontline. He wasn't even leading from the sideline. He wasn't even at the game.
2 Samuel 11:1 (NKJV) It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
David sins because he was not where he was supposed to be. He not only sinned, but then caused the murder of someone to try and cover up his sin. Later in Scripture, Joab tells him to come out to the battle or he would be receiving the glory from the victory. When we are not where we are supposed to be, doing what we are supposed to be doing, we open ourselves up for ungodly opportunities, because sin in crouching at the door to overtake us. Just as people started to praise David over Saul. Saul should have been the one to fight Goliath but he didn't. Joab was positioned to take from David what David took from Saul, all because David was not in the place he was supposed to be.
I would love to say that I have always been in the very place God had positioned me, but I would be lying. I would love to say that I have always recommitted to the covenant God has placed before me, but I haven't. I have had to repent for my sin. I have given over to others things that they were not supposed to do, just because I got comfortable. I knew they could handle it, but it wasn't their to handle. Because they were picking up my position it left their calling unfulfilled.
Father, I repent for the number of times You have positioned me to be out of harms way, away from sin, but I didn't go where I was supposed to go. I ask for You to forgive me for telling You no. I didn't see it as a no. But I now recognize You wanted to protect me from the clutches of sin. You came to me to reestablish our covenant and I went on with business as usual. I continued with what You called me to do, but I didn't include You. I went on without You. I ask for You to be reestablished in my life and I submit to Your leadership, counsel and wisdom. I will follow Your lead and walk in your ways so what You do through me is a continued blessing to those around me in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
Join together as Believers in Jesus Christ to pray and to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
Comments