Ever wonder how David ran towards the scary, mean looking giant when he was just a youth? Lately, my prayer has been, "LORD, help me to run towards the giant." You see, my tendency is to want to run away from the giants in my life. But, in these dark days, there is a giant enemy facing Believers and the church. He is taunting us in the form of liberal judges, mayors and governor decrees to shut down churches, to stop the congregations from singing, to limit inside gathering. This giant is using the weapons of fear to paralyze the church into retreat, silence, and compliance.
In 1 Samuel 17, we see that Goliath taunted the Israelite army for 40 days, cursing the God of Israel. And the Israelite army was greatly dismayed and afraid. They were paralyzed with fear.
This is exactly what the majority of churches in America are doing. They are allowing the giant, who are the liberal government leaders, to curse the God of Israel and the majority of the church is living in fear of a "invisible enemy" with a 98-99% survival rate. The American church has been almost completely sidelined in this desperate hour over a virus, refusing to open their doors to the hurting and needy, while the persecuted church in China, North Korea, the Middle East continue to meet underground while risking life, imprisonment, and torture.
We return to the pages of 1 Samuel and see that on the battlefield, walks up a young teen who is looking at this cowering army and asks, "Who is this guy who would defy the armies of the living God?" David was incredulous! He could not believe that his brothers and the Israelites were letting this giant get away with cursing his God. So, David runs towards the giant and I love what he says,
You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. BUT, I come to you in the name of the LORD!"
So, how did David do this? We have to know how because the LORD is looking for Davids in these Last Days.
David remembered how the LORD had helped him defeat the bears and the lions while he tended sheep. Every time, David defeated a lion who dare to attack his sheep, his faith in the LORD was strengthened. Every time David, killed a lion who dared to come near his sheep, his faith in the LORD was empowered. By the time David entered that battlefield and ran towards the giant, his faith in God was so great that any doubt that God would let him down was non-existent. That is why he was able to tell Goliath, "You have defied the God of the armies of Israel. This day, the LORD shall deliver you into my hand....Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the LORD's!!"
That is how we learn to run towards the giants in our life. We step out in faith - one lion, one bear at time. And every time we defeat those bears and lions that would dare come near our children, family, friends, and church, we build our strength. Because, you see, there is a giant enemy in America, taunting the church, pastors, and Believers. He is yelling across the battlefield,
"You better stay inside, if you wanna stay safe."
"You better not defy the government's mandates or we will shut you down."
"You better stay away from each other, not sing or pray, because it's for your own good."
"If you were really a good Christian, you would comply."
The giant wants the church to forget the POWER the GOD OF ISRAEL to defeat all of our enemies. Jesus said, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against My church!" (Matthew 16:18) If Jesus said, "The gates of hell shall not prevail," do you think that any government official has a chance to close down His church? Jesus said in Revelation 3:8, "See, I have set before you an open door that no one can shut!"
The only way that the church will be closed is if we close it in fear. Jesus warns the lukewarm church of Laodicean, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with me." (Revelation 3:20) Jesus is knocking at the door of the majority of the American churches and saying, "Hello....anyone in there? Anyone hear my voice and will open up?" Jesus told the lukewarm church, "Be ZEALOUS and repent."
It's time to pick up our slingshot and rock (Jesus is the rock) and run towards the giant yelling,
"You, enemies of God, come at me with your mandates of fear and intimidation! I come to you in the Name of the LORD! Jesus is my rock and my salvation. In Him will I trust!"
Rise up, Church, rise up! The world needs the American church to wake up, rise up, and run towards the giant. The assembly is watching on the sidelines. Let's show them that the God of Israel still reigns! He is alive and on the throne and He is coming back quickly for a church that is faithful, watching, and ready with oil in her lamps.
God bless,
Yolanda
