27 April 2013

Cling to the sword! (revised)

From a post originally posted on 4/29/10

Cling to the sword ... and keep on clinging!


‘And after him was Eleazar … one of the three mighty men with David … He [Eleazar] arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.’ II Samuel 23:9-10 (KJV)

What an image!

This mighty man of valor fought so hard and long that his hand ‘clave unto the sword’. The word for clave in the Hebrew is ‘dabaq’ which means: to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to…

He was so determined in his fight against the enemy that his hand clung to the sword. It stuck to and with the sword. It stayed close to the sword. It cleaved unto the sword. His hand kept close to the sword. His hand followed closely and joined to the sword.

And the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.’

Because he remained focused, diligent and persistent – because he clung to the sword – the LORD brought about a tremendous victory. And the only thing left to do when it was all over was to collect the spoils from the enemy.

•Do you need tools to fight the battle you are in?
•Do you have a desire to annihilate the enemy?
•Do need a TODAY victory where you can take back all the enemy has stolen from you and others?

DO WHAT ELEAZER DID … CLING TO THE SWORD!

Ephesians 6:13-18 tells us to put on the full armor of God when going into battle. But I especially like verse seventeen which tells us, ‘take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God’.
  • As I stick to (and with) the sword, it enables me to cut down the enemies which have surrounded me
  • As I embrace the truth of God’s Word and apply it to my life, I am equipped for an unrelenting battle
  • I am empowered as I keep my hand close to the ‘sword, which is the word’ – as I allow it to direct the works of my hands, my actions
  • When I am joined to and follow closely the Word of God, which is the sword of God, I have everything I need

The victory is sure if I will but cling to the sword of God, to the Word of God!

Understand, however, that dogged determination is not enough…

My determination must be accompanied by His sword which is His Word and by His Spirit.

This is the word of the LORD: ‘It is not by force nor by strength, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ Zechariah 4:6 (NLT)

CLING TO GOD’S SWORD – CLING TO HIS WORD
DESTROY THE ENEMY … WIN THE BATTLE … COLLECT THE SPOILS!
 

20 April 2013

Glorious ...

The past week and a half has been challenging ... so many hurting in our nation (Boston MA & West TX) ... so many still hurting from loved ones lost over the past few months ... and personally I have been overwhelmed with concern for my mom who was hospitalized in the stroke unit last week. Finally got some rest today and a chance to take a deep breath ... and with that breath I still must declare, “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (Ex. 15:11)

LORD you are indeed my strength ... and I thank You!

BJ Putnam - Glorious


Tag: Unconditional Praise!

12 April 2013

the hurt healer


Someone needs this tonight ….

 
MercyMe - The Hurt & The Healer
 
May the God of all Hope fill your heart with joy, your life with peace, your eyes with vision, your spirit with strength … and may He wrap His arms around you … and breathe you back to life.


God Bless …