Staying Alert

There’s an interesting story in Judges, specifically Judges 7:6. It’s the story of Israel’s strategy to overtake the Midianites and how the Lord directed Gideon to send home any warriors who were afraid to go into battle – and 68% of his army left. God then directed Gideon to lead the remaining 10,000 men to water and to carefully watch how they drank it. Some of the men got down on their hands and knees and lapped the water like dogs, and some of the men got down on one knee and brought the water up to their mouths.

God told Gideon to send home the ones who lapped up the water in a “face down” position. I always wondered about that.

I heard a teaching several years ago that I think was quite revealing. It seems as though God wanted the battle to be won in a manner that would leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that He and He alone created the victory. Gideon’s army had dwindled from 32,000 to 300 men and the enemy they were facing was formidable with men who were “as numerous as locusts”. Of course Israel won the battle in spite of the numbers!

So how does that relate to us? Easy. The men who went home for whatever the reason had “better” things to do than participate in warfare. How many times do we know in our hearts that we should be on our knees in prayer and spiritual warfare but typically have something “better” to do? But it’s really just fear. But what about that whole water-drinking issue? That’s easy, too. The men who stayed erect on one knee quenched their thirst while remaining alert to the movement of the enemy.

So I told you all that, Beloved, to tell you to stay alert. Never get so complacent that you forget that there’s a real enemy out there who’s out to get you. The Lord needs you to stay alert! You don’t have to become paranoid because the Holy Spirit will direct you and let you know what’s ahead of you. He will prepare you for the fight. But you can’t win a battle if you don’t see the enemy coming and if you aren’t properly armed.

Gideon armed his men to win the fight; the Holy Spirit has armed YOU to overcome the ruler of this world and win the spiritual fight.

Authority: Yours, Mine, Ours

Authority is a critical part of every Christian’s walk.

All authority in heaven and earth was given to Jesus Christ and He knew how to use it. He is resident within us and we have been given the same authority here on earth as well. But do we know how to use it? Surprisingly, many Christians don’t even know they have authority, much less how to effectively walk in it.

But once they’ve come to the realization of their authority, many people want to start walking in “power” and “commanding” stuff to happen right away. But you know, Beloved, as the Centurion said, Jesus was a man who was “under” authority. Under authority is where we learn to walk IN authority.

When you’re at work, do you constantly complain about the boss or about the rules that you have to work under? Do you murmur about how much easier your job would be if you just didn’t have to follow those stupid guidelines and be allowed to do the task your way? Un huh. I thought so. If you haven’t learned to follow the simple rules that govern your job, how can you learn to lead people who will need to follow rules by your example? It’ll never happen.

To learn to walk in authority, take a look at some of the folks in the Bible who set the examples of how to walk under authority: Joseph, David, Daniel and Eleazar. And don’t forget Ruth, Samuel, Elisha and Solomon…yes, Solomon walked under authority before he walked in authority.

Be willing to obey God’s Word. Be willing to change your behavior to conform to His Word. Be willing to change your thinking to that of a person who loves his Lord and is willing to be under authority.

                   

Tourist or Ambassador?

Have you ever been to a foreign country? When you were there, did you play the tourist? Did you go everywhere and look at everything and thoroughly enjoy your time at your destination? Of course you did. You probably took advantage of everything there was for tourists to do.

Tourists go to a destination for a temporary visit. They go on their own terms, visit where they want to visit, talk to whomever they want to talk, dress they way they feel like, and conduct themselves in any manner that suits them. And they usually don’t bother to learn the language. Tourists do, however, have to obey the laws of the country they’re visiting or they’ll get into big trouble.

Ambassadors, on the other hand, are sent to a foreign country by their homeland. They go on a specific mission, with specific instructions to accomplish specific tasks. Their time is actually not their own because they represent the Government of their homeland. They speak only to those they have been sent to meet with, they dress in a manner that displays respect for the host country and that reflects the professionalism of their office, and they conduct themselves in a manner that will bring honor to their homeland. And they are always fluent in the language of their host country. Ambassadors do not, to a very large extent, come under the laws of their host country. They have what is called “diplomatic immunity.”

So here on earth…in God’s Kingdom…which are you? Are you a tourist or an ambassador? How do you act? How do you dress? Can you speak “Kingdom” language in a manner that others can readily understand? Think about it, beloved.