1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;
protect me from those who rise up against me.

16 But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.

17 O my Strength, I sing praise to you;
you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

It hit me as I read about my enemies, that my enemies are not the people in my life (Ephesians 6:12).  It’s not that I didn’t know this already, but the question popped into my mind, If people are not my enemies then who or what is?

I was reminded that my attitude, my anger, my selfishness, my opinions, my self-righteousness, my pride, and anything that keeps me from loving God and loving people is my enemy.  These are the real enemies of God.  It’s those things in my life that keep me from rejoicing in the Lord and living a victorious life.  Ever feel your frustration and anger rise up within you like the enemies David writes about?  Ever succumb to your pride and watch a relationship be destroyed?  Ever become so selfish that no else’s needs really mattered and you found yourself all alone?  Hard to love God and love others when we are overcome by these kinds of attacks.

When you feel like you’re being overwhelmed by your enemies stop and sing of God’s strength.  Sing of His love.  Allow Him to be your fortress, your protector, your safe place against your enemies.  Worship God and invite Him to empower you to stand firm and resist the devil and his wily schemes.  This is what David did.  This is what God became to David and He can be for you as well.

Know your enemy, better yet, know your God!

Mike

Elijah, what a man of GOD. 1 Kings 18 records his showdown with the prophets of Baal – one man against 850 pagan prophets. For some reason i can see Clint Eastwood playing the role of Elijah. Here he is sending Obadiah to go fetch Ahab, reasurring him that he’ll be right here, he ain’t goin’ nowhere.

When Ahab shows up and tries to blame Elijah for Israel’s troubles Elijah holds his ground. He’s not quakin’ in his boots. Then again why should he? He’s standing for truth. . .for GOD. Instead of trembling with fear, Elijah confronts Ahab with the truth of his actions. It is Ahab and his family that has brought trouble upon the folks of Israel. They are the ones who have abandoned GOD’s commands and pursued the Baals. For some strange reason I see Elijah’s eyes squinting, head cocked to the side just a little, hair gently blowing in the breeze as he confidently confronts Ahab.

Then Elijah calls him out!! He wants a showdown – cue background music, think the whistle from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. So everyone gathers at Mt Carmel – Elijah, prophets of Baal (all 850 of them), the folks of Israel, and Ahab.

Remember, not only was Elijah confronting Ahab and the prophets of Baal, but he confronted the people of Israel – “How long will you waiver between two opinions? If the LORD is GOD, follow him; but if Baal is GOD, follow him” (v. 21). And the people said nothing. I imagine they ducked their heads, shuffled their feet in the dirt, and gathers their children in front of them, as though they were using them to hide behind.

So the showdown takes place. The prophets of Baal get the pick of the bulls to sacrifice and offer up to Baal. By the end of the day nothing has happened. All they are left with is a smelly, fly-infested offering, bleeding and bruised bodies from where they have beat and cut themselves to get Baal’s attention, and beat up pride and egos from Elijah’s public and open taunting – all day long!

Then. . .cue music. . .Elijah takes his place. He rebuilds the altar, offers up the leftover bull as a sacrifice to the LORD, He commands that water be poured over the entire altar and offering until the trenches around the altar are full. Then he prays to the GOD of heaven. What happens next is truly amazing. The fire of the LORD burns up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil. It even laps up the water around the altar. Want to imagine with me the look on the faces of the prophets of Baal, Ahab, and the folks of Israel? Oh my, oh my.

GOD’s Word says that the folks from Israel fell to their faces and worshipped GOD and the prophets of Baal went down – literally. Elijah commanded that not one of them should live.

Boldness. . . Guts. . .GOD – that’s how you become a man of GOD. We can’t do it on our own, but we play a part. We have to decide to fight for the heart of our King. We have to pick up our sword, even when no one around us will fight.

What about you? Picked up your sword today? Willing to fight for the heart of your King? Want to see GOD do something amazing?

Boldness. . .Guts. . .GOD – that’s how it happens.

Mike

A little background on Ahab.

• He had become king of Israel (1Kings 16:29-33).
• He was even more evil than any of those before him.
• He married Jezebel and began worshipping Baal and erected Asherah poles to be worshipped.
• He did more to provoke the LORD and his anger than all the kings before him.

THIS was not good king – get the picture?So what’s so great about Obadiah? Great question. Well. . .as the story goes on Jezebel is tired of the prophets of the LORD and begins to take it upon herself to rid the country of them. While Jezebel is out killing the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah is saving 100 of them by hiding them in two caves – fifty in each. Not only is he hiding them ,he’s also providing food and water – he’s keeping them alive.

Obadiah wasn’t just taking a risk by keeping them safe, he was taking an even greater risk by providing sustenance to a hundred men! Think about that for a moment. We usually go, “ahhhh, isn’t that nice?” right about here. But it was much more serious than that. He didn’t just put them away and forget about them. Whether he used his influence or he personally provided food and water we don’t know, but it took more guts to keep them alive than just hiding them. What if word had leaked out? What if word of Obadiah’s actions seeped into the ears of Jezebel? Not only would a 100 men of GOD had lost their lives, but so would have Obadiah!

Obadiah was a great man of GOD. And while he may have feared Jezebel, I get the sense he feared GOD even more. He stood for GOD when no one in the kingdom, except Elijah, would stand for Him. He exhibited boldness. . .guts. . .and a fear of GOD that goes beyond showing up for worship and Bible study on Sunday morning. He lived out his faith, risking everything for GOD.
Would you risk everything for GOD? Many men have over the years. What about you? Willing to risk the safety of your job? The status you enjoy in your community? The stability of your home or finances? The position you have in your church? What are you willing to risk for GOD?

This is a question I am wrestling with even now. I know what it’s like to wrestle with the commitment question. . .the risk question. I am right up there with you. Pray for me. Let me know what GOD is asking you to risk for him and I will pray for you.

Remember it takes boldness and guts to be a man of GOD.

Mike

In Numbers 13:30 & 14:6-9 we get a full-blown, unobstructed view of what it looks like to pick up our sword and fight for our King.

13:30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

14:6-9 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Hope you didn’t miss it, but in case you did let me help. First, Caleb stood against his peers. These weren’t run of the mill Israelites (if there is such a thing). These were leaders from the 12 tribes of Judah – hand picked by Moses himself. These were men of esteem, men of wisdom, men who could be trusted. But when they saw the people of Canaan, they gave in to their fears and gave the people of Israel a bad report and eventually persuaded the Israelites to rebel against Moses and ultimately God. Then Joshua steps up. I love it. With confidence to spare – not in himself, but in his God – he tells the people that they should go up and take the land – take possession of it. As in, it will be ours, not theirs. As in, we will overcome whatever and whoever is in our way. As in, we shouldn’t care who owns the land now, we CAN do it! His entire report is the complete opposite of these men of renown.

Then Caleb stands against the people. When only two guys – Moses and Aaron – are hurt by the people’s rebellious attitude, Caleb, along with Joshua, join them. He stands when no one else will. He stands for God and against an entire nation. Now this is what it looks like to take up your sword and fight for the heart of your King when all those around you are running. Why were they running from their inheritance? One word – FEAR! But Caleb didn’t give in to fear. He didn’t give in because he didn’t see giants he saw God. Caleb knew and trusted God’s power – his ability – to overcome the giants of the land flowing with milk and honey. He didn’t give in to his fears – I don’t even know if he was afraid. Maybe he was. Maybe he wasn’t any different than ten of the other men that went on that trip. Maybe he wasn’t any different than me and you. Maybe. . .Then again, Caleb also knew of the incredible power of God. Instead of seeing giants he saw God. He saw the God of deliverance – the God that brought them out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. He saw the God who goes with us – and provides for our needs just like He provided food, meat, and water for the Israelites throughout their journey. He saw the God of protection. He saw God!

So how do you get to this point in your life with God. That’s a great question. In Joshua 14:9 and 13-14 we get a hint of what it takes. Joshua is dolling out the land to each of the tribes and Caleb comes to Joshua to collect his inheritance. Read these words.

9 That was the day that Moses solemnly promised, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance, you and your children’s, forever. Yes, you have lived totally for God.’

13-14 Joshua blessed him. He gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh as an inheritance. Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite still today, because he gave himself totally to God, the God of Israel.

Twice during Caleb’s conversation with Joshua he is referred to as a man who gave himself totally to God. Want to be a Caleb? Want to get past your fears? What to overcome the giants in your life? Want to see God in your situations? Do what Caleb had learned to do – give yourself totally to God. Don’t hold anything back. It doesn’t matter what you think you must have control of – turn it over to God. This is what it looks like when we come under the LORDship of God. This is what is looks like when we place ourselves under God’s authority.
Caleb, what a man! A man of vision – for he saw God instead of his fears. A man of God – he gave himself totally to God.

What about you? What are your fears? What are the giants in your life? What’s getting in your way of seeing God – protector, deliverer, provider, King of heaven and earth? What’s keeping you from giving yourself totally to God today. Do you want to see God instead of your giants?
Take some time to list your fears. . .to answer the hard questions. Ask your wife. She’ll definitely let you know. Ask other godly men who know you and your heart. Then open yourself up to God. Confess those fears and ask God show Himself afresh to you right now.

Me – my giant is trusting God to provide. It’s such a giant in my life right now that I can’t see the God who has, time and time again, provided for my every need. I weep at times because of my lack of faith. My fear shoves me into the closet so I can’t be used of God. I’m working through this with God as I write this. I want to fight for the heart of my King and to be a man with a heart for God! Join me!!

If you noticed each of the questions above were point at you – NOT YOUR SPOUSE (if you have one). FYI – you’re job is to change you, not someone else. . .even your spouse.

So. . .what will you change?

Will you be more intentional about doing what it takes to have a RELATIONSHIP with God?

• Spending time with God – quiet time (or whatever you call it) that is consistent and regular.
• Intentional prayer times – not just shot in the dark or “fast food” prayers.
• Reading God’s Word – not just the devotional thought in the morning or evening.
• Share your story with God with others – not expecting others to do it for you.

Will you begin, and continue, to work on putting everything you are and everything you have influence over under the LORDSHIP of God?

• Heart
• Attitude
• Emotions
• Problems – big and small
• Finances
• Relationships
• Giftedness, abilities, and passions
• Job
• Hobbies
• You have more I’m sure

Will you WORSHIP the Lord by developing an unquenchable thirst for the things of God?

• Worship becomes a lifestyle.
• Sharing the difference Christ makes in your life.
• Loving others.
• Loving God.
• A hunger for God’s Word and understanding it.

Will you pick up the sword of WARSHIP?

• Fighting for God’s truth and His standards – even if it means standing alone.
• Fighting for your heart – especially when there’s no one to fight for you.
• Fighting for your Eve – fighting for her integrity and character.
• Fighting for the hearts of a few men – having their back even if they don’t know it.

I don’t know where you are in the process of becoming the man God designed and desires you to be, but you can start by having a personal relationship with Him. Click [here] to find out how. If you have a personal relationship with God, then you can begin the process, or in some cases kick the process up a notch, by choosing one of the areas listed above and gettin’ busy.

Just a reminder: The process doesn’t mean there’s a starting and ending point to each of the steps. In all actuality, you will be doing some in each area at the same time. They are integrally connected. So. . .when you’re developing a consistent time with God and working on the RELATIONSHIP, you are also working on the LORDSHIP – putting your time under His authority – and WORSHIP – becoming passionate about the things of God. Eventually you build up to the WARSHIP step of the process as you grow in your relationship with God by learning how to fight the victorious fight.

Find it . . . Pick it . . . Do it!

Mike