Warriors or Worriers

 

Divide and conqueror is the mantra of Satan. We see it happening here in America and division is distraction thus in he did it also in Israel. When the people of Israel were about to go into the promised land Moses sent twelve leaders to spy out the land. When they came back, ten of them brought back a negative report while two of them, Caleb and Joshua, were ready to go conquer the land. Moses said:

“Go up there into the Negev. Then go up into the hill country. See what the land is like. See if the people who live in it are strong or weak, and if they are few or many. Find out if the land they live in is good or bad. See if the cities they live in are open or if they have walls. Find out if the land is rich or poor, and if there are trees in it or not. Then try to get some of the fruit of the land.” Numbers 13:17-20

After 40 days they returned and ten of the spies said:

“We went to the land where you sent us. It does flow with milk and honey. This is its fruit. But the people who live in the land are strong. The cities have walls and are very large. And we saw the children of Anak there. Amalek is living in the land of the Negev. The Hittites and Jebusites and Amorites are living in the hill country. And the Canaanites are living by the sea and by the side of the Jordan.” Numbers 13:27-29

These spies were worriers. They saw the strong people, the giants, the fortified cities and large walls and and went on to say:

“We are not able to go against the people. They are too strong for us.” So they brought the people of Israel bad news about the land they had spied out, saying, “The land we have gone to spy out is a land that destroys those who go there to live. All the people we saw in it are very large. We saw the Nephilim there. (The sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim.) We looked like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” Numbers 13:31-33

Joshua and Caleb however were warriors. Caleb said:

“Let us go up at once and take the land. For we are well able to take it in battle.” verse 30

We are either warriors or worriers. Two men were motivated by faith and ten were motivated by fear, The ten saw the obstacles and the two say the opportunities. The ten saw the problems but the two saw the promise of God. Two saw the large fruit as proof of the goodness of the land. Ten saw sour grapes and the fruitlessness of going to war. The result of the spies' doubts resulted in every tribe dying in the wilderness and now being forbidden into the promises land. Joshua and Caleb despite being in the minority were the only ones allowed to enter in. They fought for the land and later on were blessed for their faith. Joshua went on to be the servant and then successor of Moses and Caleb was given the city of Hebron, a city of refuge in Judah as his inheritance. This was the burial place of Abraham and the patriarchs. Caleb was a warrior till the end. God blessed Caleb with strength in his old age:

“As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.”Joshua 14:11

We are called to be warriors not worriers. When God sends us to battle, it is not to loose but win. Worrying is a bi-product of fear and fear paralyzes and stops us in our tracks. Faith moves us forward in confidence knowing that the battle is the Lords but the victory is ours! Shalom!

Is the Oil Light on!

 

Is the Oil Light On! 

Have you ever had that scary orange oil light go on in your car? It indicates that the oil in your car is getting low. If you ignore it then you can severely damage the vehicle because oil lubricates so many parts of the engine. Sometimes you need to add oil because its getting low and sometimes you will need an oil change. That’s when you have to get rid of the old dirty oil and replace it with new oil.

The Bible uses oil as a type of the Holy Spirit. The Jews used olive oil mixed with certain spices to anoint Kings and priests. Jesus said he was anointed by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18, Acts. 10:38). Oil was also used medicinally to cleans wounds (Luke 10:34).

Oil was very valuable and precious because it was used for so many things like cooking and lighting lamps for light.

Elisha performed a miracle by multiplying a widows last possession, a flask of oil, and pouring it into many vessels so she could sell it to pay her creditors and live off the proceeds.  (2 Kings 4)

In all this we see the many functions of the Holy Spirit. It anoints us, cleanses us, fills us up and gives us light, and flows out from us to be poured into others. This is why Jesus said to his disciples to not begin their ministries until they were endued with power from on high. This referred to the Holy Spirit that would come on them on the Day of Pentecost.

 “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”  Luke 24:49

The Holy Spirit is essential to the Christian Life:

Christians need to be anointed and led by the Holy Spirit. (Gal.5:18)

Christians need to be taught by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:10).

The Holy Spirit bears witness to us being the children of God. (Rom: 8:16)

The Holy Spirit is our advocate, helper and comforter. (John 14:16:26)

 

So again, I say: “Has the oil light come on?” Are you in danger of damaging your spiritual engine because of neglect? Is the work of the Spirit become diminished in your witness. Is the light of Christ getting dimmer in your life?

The Ten Virgins

Jesus warned us in the parable of the 10 virgins that in the last days just before his coming, Fifty percent of Christians will run out of oil! (Matt. 25:1-13) Five out of the 10 virgins were called foolish because even though they had their lamps, they had no oil to light them with.

I have a small terracotta oil lamb from Israel that is probably very similar to the ones used in Jesus' day! It is useless unless oil is poured into it to be lit. The five wise virgins trimmed their lamps (added wick and lit them) and then went to meet the bridegroom but the five foolish ones stumbled in the dark trying to buy new oil but when they came to the Wedding Feast, the door was shut, and it was too late.

We are in the last days and evil has never been greater. The Bible tells of abounding iniquity and perilous times and the increase of sin and godlessness. The world can take its toll even on the strongest of Christians (Matt. 24:24). So, all the more we need the power of the Holy Spirit to protect us, keep us righteous before him and strengthen us for these difficult times!

Has the red light come on in this generation? Have fifty percent of Christians lost their oil? Are half of the Church void of the Spirit? Are half the people sitting in pews just empty of God’s Spirit and simply going through the motions with religious pretentions?

I read recently in a highly regarded publication that for the first time in America’s history the Church is diminishing in converts. They even have a name for it: “Nonverts”. Not only are fewer people getting saved but more Christians are either abandoning their faith or compromising their biblical standards by embracing the gay lifestyle, evolution and abortion.

I believe God is signaling that the oil light has come on. Before its too late, many need to add more of that oil to their lives in order to shine their light in this dark world. Some other Christians need a complete oil change because theirs is old, dirty and defiled. Come! God is gracious. Let him cleans you, and fill you again so that you may be a vessel fit for the Masters use!