READ: 1
SAMUEL 17:42-51
The four
lepers at the gate of Samaria, when faced with acute hunger, reconsidered their
location. They asked themselves, ‘why stand here and die?’ Seeing they faced
death whichever way, they turned, resolved to go to the enemy’s territory. That
step was what God used in delivering them and the children of Israel who had
been under siege (2 Kings 7:1-8).
Similarly, in 1 Samuel 14:1-16, while facing a huge Philistine army, Israel was at a great disadvantage in terms of number, weapons, location, etc… Yet Jonathan and his body guard advanced towards the camp of the enemy and killed 20 of them and the Lord took it over from there and gave them victory. From these instances, it becomes obvious that it is those who advance towards their enemies that return victorious. If the lepers had not advanced towards the Syrians, they would have died of hunger. If Jonathan had not advanced, Israel would have lost the table.
This also tells us that the type of prayer God will readily support, any day, is the offensive prayer. Some Christians always engaged in defensive praying. They wait until the devil strikes at them and thereafter start to pray for recovery. Defensive praying Christians demonstrate lack of faith. They cannot be highly used of God in a great way. Those that God will use must be bold as a lion and ready to storm the gates of the enemy. As they go, the heavenly host will back them up to give the victory. Such are like Jesus who went to Satan’s headquarters and publicly defeated him and stripped him of the key of death and hell. How do you pray today?
The one Satan fears is the Christian who engages in offensive attacks. He will wake up at night to release terrible bombs into Satan’s camp and send fire to destroy their equipment. Facing such a loss, they will focus on salvaging their losses while the Kingdom of God advances. Another lesson here is that God is just waiting for you to make the first move of faith and then He will back you up. Where there is no effort, there will be no victory. While facing Goliath, David made a move and God backed him up. Make a move today. Refusal to step out in faith will limit your progress. Stop sleeping. Wake up and begin to pray against forces of darkness, and set the captives free. That’s one way to earn Satan’s respect.
Similarly, in 1 Samuel 14:1-16, while facing a huge Philistine army, Israel was at a great disadvantage in terms of number, weapons, location, etc… Yet Jonathan and his body guard advanced towards the camp of the enemy and killed 20 of them and the Lord took it over from there and gave them victory. From these instances, it becomes obvious that it is those who advance towards their enemies that return victorious. If the lepers had not advanced towards the Syrians, they would have died of hunger. If Jonathan had not advanced, Israel would have lost the table.
This also tells us that the type of prayer God will readily support, any day, is the offensive prayer. Some Christians always engaged in defensive praying. They wait until the devil strikes at them and thereafter start to pray for recovery. Defensive praying Christians demonstrate lack of faith. They cannot be highly used of God in a great way. Those that God will use must be bold as a lion and ready to storm the gates of the enemy. As they go, the heavenly host will back them up to give the victory. Such are like Jesus who went to Satan’s headquarters and publicly defeated him and stripped him of the key of death and hell. How do you pray today?
The one Satan fears is the Christian who engages in offensive attacks. He will wake up at night to release terrible bombs into Satan’s camp and send fire to destroy their equipment. Facing such a loss, they will focus on salvaging their losses while the Kingdom of God advances. Another lesson here is that God is just waiting for you to make the first move of faith and then He will back you up. Where there is no effort, there will be no victory. While facing Goliath, David made a move and God backed him up. Make a move today. Refusal to step out in faith will limit your progress. Stop sleeping. Wake up and begin to pray against forces of darkness, and set the captives free. That’s one way to earn Satan’s respect.
MEMORIZE:
1 SAMUEL 17:32 –And David said to Saul, let no man’s heart fail because of him;
your servant will go and fight with the Philistine.
