Originally posted 12/11/20
It takes one. It takes one person, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to change the course of human history. It takes one person who says, “Yes.” Someone must say, “Yes, I will be the one to stand in the gap. I will proclaim the truth of who God is.” There must be one who is willing to chance looking like a fool to demonstrate the power of God.
A Lesson from David
It took one boy, filled with the Holy Spirit, to defeat a giant. All the “mighty men” of the king are cowering in fear. Meanwhile, a boy bringing his brothers lunch thinks, I’ll stand up to that big bully. You see, David knows that because he has the power of the Holy Spirit, he can defeat the giant. In fact, when he faces the big bully, he tells him that though the giant comes with weapons made from man, he comes to the battle with weapons not made by man. David comes with the power of God.
“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”” 1 Samuel 17:45 (ESV)
We then see David put a rock in his slingshot, swing it around, and throw it at the giant. A giant who is covered from head to toe in armor. God in his power forces that rock in the bare skin of the giant and knocks him out. Then David walks over and cuts his head off. It took one boy filled with the Holy Spirit to defeat the giant.
It takes one!
A Lesson from Gideon
It took one man of valor to lead a group of 300 men to defeat the Midianites, people who had been bullying the Israelites for seven years. God allowed the Midianites to come wreak havoc in Israel to wake them up. He wanted them to know that only Yahweh has power to save and protect them. After many years the people had enough, cried out to God, and turned their hearts back to him. Then God “clothed” Gideon with the Holy Spirit.
When we first meet Gideon, he was behaving like a coward. He was hiding from the Midianites and not acting like a man of valor. Nor did Gideon see himself as a man of valor. It didn’t matter how Gideon saw himself or how he was currently behaving. God saw the man he created, and in the eyes of God Gideon already was a man of valor (see Judges 6:12). Still, it took this one man, Gideon, to say yes to what God was asking him to do.
What did God ask Gideon to do? God whittled his fighters from 32,000 men to 300 men. Then God asked Gideon to do something that seemed to go against all reason when it came to fighting. In Judges 7:16-18 we read,
“And he divided the 300 men into three companies and put trumpets into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the jars. And he said to them, “Look at me, and do likewise. When I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp and shout, ‘For the Lord and for Gideon.’” Judges 7:16-18 (ESV)
When Gideon and his men did this crazy act, the army of Midian freaked out and ran! Eventually the two princes of Midian were captured and killed. It took one man of valor to stand up against the Midianites in the most bizarre way to show the power of God. It takes one!
A Lesson from Jesus
It took one man to conquer all evil. Jesus came to this earth with one main purpose: to live a perfect life, only to then die, take the sins of everyone who had ever lived and everyone who would ever live upon himself, and then conquer sin and death by raising himself from the dead.
As a man, Jesus had to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to guide him and work through him. He lived a life that exemplifies what the Christian life should look like. Jesus even tells us, before he is taken away to be crucified, when we believe in him we “… will also do the works that [he does]; and greater works than these will [we] do…” John 14:12 (ESV). We as Christians are given the power through the Holy Spirit to do the same works that Jesus did. Not only will we do the works of Jesus, but we even get to do greater works. How exciting is that?!? It took one man to conquer sin and death so we can live forever. It takes one!
Lesson for Today
Today we are again facing bullies. It seems we can’t go one day without more stories of devastation in parts of our beloved country. I know these stories aren’t just happening in the US. There are stories of bullies making it impossible for citizens to make an honest living. Why? Because they claim they are keeping citizens “safe.” Yet, in the very next moment we hear of these same bullies doing whatever they want. They are doing the very actions they are preventing citizens from doing. The question becomes: are these “leaders” making these decisions because they honestly feel that their mandates are in the best interest of the people, or are they just power hungry? Wouldn’t these people be following their own rules if it were so dangerous to defy the rules? After all they don’t want to live dangerously and risk death, do they?
We suddenly live in a world that is completely unrecognizable. Only 10 months ago citizens were able to move about, run their businesses the way they saw fit, and make their own decisions regarding their health and wellbeing. I’m not saying that there should not be some precautions taken. I am saying that I believe it should be up to the individual to decide what risk they are willing to take. These bullies are definitely being a great example of what all people should be able to do. The bullies are able to go out to eat when they want, get a haircut, and move about however they want. We should all follow their marvelous example.
Even if these sorts of things aren’t happening where you live, there are other bullies out there trying to take your joy and peace. You see, Satan has one goal: to kill, steal, and destroy. If he can use people to oppress others, great. If not, he will use any means necessary to make people fearful and thus controllable. We must stand up against the forces of the Devil. God has given us the power to do so through the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) we are told, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
How Do We fight?
We aren’t fighting against the people who are behaving as bullies. We are fighting against the evil spirits controlling those people. So how do we fight? We fight by putting on our armor. Ephesians 6:10-20 tells us exactly what our armor is.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:10-20 (ESV)
We fight by taking a stand in prayer. Take a stand in prayer and then stand back and allow God to work. God fights our battles. We are only asked to pray, stand firm, and speak and do what he tells us to do. Stay connected to the Holy Spirit by daily asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Then be sensitive to what he is saying. We then are able to become mighty men and women of valor. We will be equipped to speak and do whatever it is that the Holy Spirit tells us.
It takes one. It will take one person filled with the Holy Spirit to bring down the bullies and show the power of God. As we’ve seen, when the power of God is shown, the bullies get scared and run away. When the power of God is shown, people turn their hearts back to him. The power of God is undeniable, mighty, and leads to peace and unity amongst believers. So yes, things look a lot like they did when David beat Goliath and Gideon and his men beat the Midianites. God has shown time and time again that when things look the worst, that is when he fills his people with the power of the Holy Spirit and shakes things up.
I believe with all my heart that 2021 is the year of the harvest. It will take God’s people filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to stand up and proclaim his truth. You see, like David, we come at this war not with weapons made by man, but with the power of God himself. No person and no weapon can stand against the power of God. It takes one. Will you be that one? I know I will be.
Recent Comments