The message was preached by Evangelist Albert Clark, Jr.
Judges 3:1-3 KJV
1Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
2Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
God is doing something. You know He is and you don't want to be left out. There is a shift and if you are not careful you will miss out.
Isaiah 55:9
9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Sometimes it's hard to understand the things of God. It is hard to understand why Daniel was thrown into the lions' den (Daniel 6) or why God allowed Shadrach, Meschac, or Abednego to be thrown into the fire (Daniel 3). Prayer got them into the fire but their praise got them out of the fire.
Psalm 47:4
4 He will choose our inheritance for us,
The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah
God chooses our inheritance. Sometimes we make bad decisions but God still chooses our inheritance. He is in control. All that you have been through is working for your good (Rom 8:28). In spite of limitations God will:
Phil 1:6
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
You may feel like God has left the work incomplete. You may not see it but God is working on your behalf. He specializes in working behind the scenes. We can't see in our flesh. It won't let you see God working things out on our behalf. When we operate in the Spirit we know God is able to do anything. Get out of the flesh. It doesn't matter what is going on. because you know that you know that God spoke a Word.
Numbers 23:19
19 “God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
If He said it He will do it. God protects the Word over your life.
Jeremiah 1:12 KJV
12Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
You have people looking at you laughing and saying it won't happen. God is watching over His Word.
Phil 2:5
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
There are some things you will have to face.
Phil 4:19
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Psalm 37:4
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
We go through things we don't understand what He is doing. He never leads us to failure.
2 Cor 2:14
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
He led you because he knew you could handle it. Just in case it gets too hard He will make a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13). The devil though he had you but you got away. God leads us to victory.
Back to the book of Judges; God has brought us through many things and we should be thankful for the goodness of the Lord. God tells the children of Israel that He has something for them but they need to do something for Him. God has blessings for us but we have to do something for him.
Joshua 1:7-8
7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
You may have to fast, separate from people, make some changes. God gives us instructions and we don't want to obey at times.
Isaiah 1:19
19 If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;
They did not obey God. Generations were left behind. There are 5 things they had to deal with to receive from God and these are also applicable to us today:
1. Strong holds - You say you won't commit that sin anymore but you still do it. Paul sought God 3x concerning his affliction.
2 Cor 12:7-10
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 910 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor 10:4
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
2. They had to go through a fortress -
What they needed was blocked by a wall. No matter how hard you fight you can't get pass it. Your blessing, deliverance, break through is blocked. Just shout! Israel shouted:
Joshua 6:20
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
Don't say a word to your enemies. There is a song that says, "If I hold my peace and let the Lord fight my battle".
3. Migration - People from other nations came together against Israel.People will get together to come against you. The enemies of Israel didn't even like each other.
Isaiah 54:15
15 Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me.
Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.
Isaiah 54:17
17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the LORD.
Luke 1:74
74 To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
4. Wine press - A wine press is used to make wine, juice, to get the oil out of olives. A hole is dug deep in a rock. It is filled with either grapes or olives. People will get in to crush the grapes or olives. Do you know what it feels like to be crushed? There is heartache and pain. Seems like people walk all over you and it seems like it got worse when you fasted and prayed. It was so because God is trying to get what is in you out of you.
5. Barren place - In spite of what you encountered the last 6 years, place of lack, hindrance, stagnation, defeat, you couldn't go forth.
Nahum 1:12
12 Thus says the LORD:
“ Though they are safe, and likewise many,
Yet in this manner they will be cut down
When he passes through.
Though I have afflicted you,
I will afflict you no more;
You were in a bad place and your demise was for sure. You may have had a miscarriage while in this place. It doesn't mean that you can't conceive. Miscarriage means a spontaneous end to a pregnancy before the fetus is ready to walk independently You have been wondering what has been going on. You've been miscarrying when God speaks a Word. You have to carry it full term. You have to believe what He says. Faith with out works is dead (James 2:14). Hold onto it until God brings it to pass.
The current generation of children of Israel didn't know God like Abraham, Jacob, Moses, etc knew God. You're experiencing miracles others in your life haven't experienced. God had to show them He is the same god of yesterday. If the same God delivered you in 1998 and in 2005 He can do it again. God also has to show that he is the same God to them like He is to you. If you've never been a position where you will lose your house you will never know He can sustain you. If you've never been in a position where you were sick then you would never know God as your healer. God had to show the children of Israel war, to show them how to fight.
The war is just about over. He is putting the finishing touches on His people.
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