Up the Ante
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matt 6:33
The question for today: Do you inquire of the Lord before you make a decision to do something? Most of us would say, “yes, absolutely I do.” How many times have you asked and felt you heard Him say to go forward with what you are asking but it failed? This does something to our hearts. Every time this happens it can cause a callus to form over our hearts. If we are not careful, we can become numb to the Holy Spirit and hearing His voice.
Pastor Tim shared a passage of scripture from Judges 20 on Sunday that can help us in disappointment and failure. Prior to this particular part of the story the tribe of Benjamin had done a horrendous act and there needed to be consequences, so the other eleven tribes of Israel went before the Lord to ask Him what they should do.
“Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, “Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” The Lord said, “Judah first!” So the children of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin, and the men of Israel put themselves in battle array to fight against them at Gibeah. Then the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day cut down to the ground twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites.” Judges 20:19-20
In their seeking the Lord, He tells them they must send the tribe of Judah first. Judah means praise. For us today this communicates our battles are won through praise. In Psalm 22:3, it suggests Yahweh inhabits the praises of His people. In other words, when you praise it ushers in His presence. He can’t help but show up when you turn your heart to Him openly and lift His name up in song or words. But what happens when the battle isn’t won in your time of praise? We see in Judges they did exactly what they were told of Yahweh, but they lost the battle. This can be so discouraging when we feel we did exactly what He asked us to no avail. We have all cried out for situations in the dark night of the soul, but nothing changed.
We asked for forgiveness, we extended forgiveness, we wrote the letters and made the calls, we sent the text, but nothing ever really changed. Maybe for a moment it did, and you became hopeful to only find the situation right back to the way it was. Do you stop believing Jesus will intervene? Do you stop asking Him to help?
We can really get in our heads sometimes with circumstances and convince ourselves - “It is what it is” and give up on a person or a situation. In this moment right now, we have a choice to make. Regardless of what it looks like or the outcome I will encourage myself in the Lord. I will remember He is YAHWEH, the God of IMPOSSIBILTY!
Even still this may not change the outcome, then what? Let’s continue on in our story in Judges.
“And the people, that is, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves and again formed the battle line at the place where they had put themselves in array on the first day. Then the children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until evening, and asked counsel of the Lord, saying, “Shall I again draw near for battle against the children of my brother Benjamin?” And the Lord said, “Go up against him.” So the children of Israel approached the children of Benjamin on the second day. And Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah on the second day, and cut down to the ground eighteen thousand more of the children of Israel; all these drew the sword. Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. So the children of Israel inquired of the Lord (the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?” And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”
We see the Israelites encouraged themselves in the Lord, they asked him again what to do, only to lose again. Oh, how many times have we encouraged ourselves to only be disappointed again. But what did they do the third time in their approach to Yahweh? It says, ALL the people came to the house of God and fasted until evening, then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. When they inquired again, He says, “I will deliver them into your hand.”
Our advancement in situations demands we up the ante. The Kingdom doesn’t work on the mentality of “if it isn’t broke don’t fix it” meaning we cannot do the same things over and over in our walk with Jesus. Oftentimes what brings victories in one place cannot be the same for this battle. Where can you give more to see more victories?
What is the one thing you’ve prayed so long for but have stopped and given up? Maybe it’s a spouse or a family member. Maybe it’s financial or your health.
Spend some time with Jesus today asking Him where you need resurrection power in your belief for the impossible.
