The words “Cancel Fear This Year” have resounded in my spirit throughout 2019! This mandate prompted my consistent refusal to live in fear or defeat. Although ignited to rise above obstacles and motivated to live victoriously, I was also aware that the Lord was preparing me in advance for contrary situations that would dictate a completely different behavior! After marinating in the book of Judges, I felt compelled to write this entry about another Old Testament valiant man’s (ish chayil) personal struggle with fear.
Israel’s Kingdom Identity was born out of their covenant instituted by YHWH on Mt. Sinai in Exodus, “I will be your God, and you will be my people!” They were not to worship any other gods, and God would be directly involved in the details of their existence, daily. They would worship Him alone, with their whole spirit, soul, mind and body. In turn, He would provide for, protect and bless them. They would also exemplify the intimacy the Creator God desired with every other person. Judges 6 opens with Israel having broken covenant with YHWH, resulting in their devastating predicament with the Midianites, who would destroy their crops, livestock and all their property. The Bible says, “They left no sustenance in Israel,” indicating that even Israel’s future was in jeopardy. In great misery, the Israelites made for themselves mountain dens or caves to hide in. Living in stark fear was inconsistent with Israel’s Kingdom Identity as described above. Instead of living in the peace and prosperity YHWH’s covenant provided, they were dominated by the dictates of fear! Instead of being God’s covenant example they were relying on their own measly efforts for survival! Greatly impoverished, they cried to the Lord for help! Whenever God’s people cry for help, God sends a deliverer, however this time, He first sends a prophet exclaiming why all this had happened, and reminds them of how God rescued them from Egyptian bondage. The Angel of the Lord sat under an oak tree. Gideon was beating out wheat (dry) in the winepress (wet), to hide it from the Midianites. Notice the resulting dysfunction and impact of living in fear, as Gideon is now in the habit of performing a dry activity in a very wet place. The Angel said, “The Lord is with you mighty warrior (ish chayil)!” Didn’t the Angel see Gideon hiding? If so, why would the Angel call this scaredy cat a “man of valor?” Fear consistently disrupts our alignment with divine purpose, while the Lord consistently works to remind us of who we really are (Kingdom Identity). Gideon’s altered perception due to life’s circumstances causes him to attempt to convince the Angel that God is no longer around, and that he is not, in any way, a deliverer. Yet, the Lord repeatedly comforts, and declares His divine plan and presence. Gideon then seeks proof through fleecing. Bad times and negative experiences are incapable of altering the will of God! God meant what He said! First on the King’s agenda is family! Gideon is charged with the dangerous task of destroying idol worship at home. He was to build God an altar and worship there. In essence, Gideon was to restore the honor of his father’s house, leading to his new name, Jerubbaal (let Baal contend against him). While the enemy hordes gathered, “The Spirit of the Lord took possession of Gideon; and he sounded the trumpet, and his fellow warriors were called out by tribes to follow him” (6:34). The Hebrew says it this way: “The Spirit of the Lord clothed Himself with, put on, dressed Himself with, or wore Gideon; and he sounded the trumpet…” Can you imagine God putting Gideon on like we would put on a jacket or shirt? Here's the thing! Though Gideon would be present in this great battle, it would be GOD'S BATTLE! God put Gideon on and would fight through him! This narrative concludes with Israel’s deliverance, as a result of GOD'S POWER THROUGH Gideon. So we defy the bondage of fear and defeat! We cancel the harassment of Fear with the TRUTH that the Lord fights for us! We gain the victory through His divinely activated power! In THIS instance, we refuse to be self-sufficient! May we never forget the Power-Source! Prayer: Heavenly Father, we commit to your service as vessels of deliverance, and to the restoration of Your honor in both our natural and spiritual families! In Jesus’ Name, Amen! For those who sense that there is more to your existence than what meets the eye! It's time to distinguish between mere business and purposeful deeds, which are linked to your life-assignment and loaded with kingdom benefits, resulting in fruit that remain and bring honor and great glory to our King!Study Group for the Ish Chayil (man of valor) and Eshet Chayil (woman of valor)!The announcement of this Group Study has come with great joy and excitement! It was my editor who first suggested that Volume I be used as a devotional or group study book. Clearly the feedback from readers reveals that there is more to this book than what meets the eye! Some have stated that every now and then, they reread it to receive that boost of encouragement and confidence it provides. I can tell you that one of the main purposes of this book was for it to function as a tool of divine activation in the lives of its readers! Praise God, that is exactly what is happening! It ignites the purpose of God that has been deposited inside of you, resulting in a greater clarity, boldness and desire to fulfill one's life-assignment! I will host our very first Kingdom Identity Chayil Activation & Study Group, a 5 week session, beginning Friday, June 14 at 7:00pm. This invitation is for an intimate group of 20 serious people (18+ years), who can commit to ALL 5 sessions, in order to jumpstart the cultivation of one's Kingdom Orientation, the discovery of one's Kingdom Identity, and the activation of one's Kingdom Deposit. Registrants will need the book pictured above ($12). The Proverbs 31 Woman, the symbolic Proverbial Wisdom Woman, is a very popular example of the model wife and mother used both in religious and nonreligious circles. Whether or not she is a literal woman or a metaphorical Wisdom Woman, has been a scholarly debate for many generations. Regardless of which side of the debate you’re on, you may find what follows to be extremely liberating!
I’m so excited to begin blogging on a theme birthed during the writing of my first book, “The Christian’s Kingdom Identity: Ish Chayil & Eshet Chayil. This theme, Becoming Who He Knew, was taken from Jeremiah 1:5 NIV:
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