I'm Not Gonna Bow!

About four years ago my husband and I were faced with a situation that didn't go to well in our favor. It was a set-up by the enemy to wreck havoc in our lives. We were confronted with the decision to choose on the side of righteousness or rebellion, there was no way to escape this public escapade. I remember sitting on the couch one night with him as he explained that as much as it hurt to see people behave so ridiculously, we were going to always side with righteousness, regardless the cost. Although we were in complete agreement to obey the Lord that day, we knew we would be risking a lot by doing so.  We grabbed hands and prayed a prayer of protection over our family as we stepped out in faith to proclaim to the enemy that like Daniel, "WE WOULD NOT BOW".

Although this decision took place almost 1,460 days ago the enemy has been relentless in making us pay for our unwillingness to bow.

I hear from friends everyday who have made the choice to side with righteousness and as a result have suffered the same attack. Truth is the enemy has no intentions of bothering those who remain complacent because they're not a threat to him. He attacks those who are moving forward to posses the land, the dream, the call God has predestined them to fulfill. Adversity is the enemies' reaction to your progress. He launches an all out attack when we publicly and fearlessly take a stand. The problem is too many good hearted, God fearing Christians back down at the least level of resistance from a big mouth enemy. Yet no where in the scriptures do I find God giving the land, the dream or the vision to those who passively wait for it to drop in their laps. On the other hand, I see men and women who "fought the good fight", who "waged war against the enemy", who "moved forward to possess the land". In everyone of these testimonies their fulfillment of God's promise was delivered through struggle and often times a fight to survive! (Joseph, Daniel, Jonah, Esther, Ruth, Noah, Paul, John are a few examples and the list goes on.)

God is calling a remnant of believers who have what it takes to possess the land. Like little David the shepherd boy who wasn't intimidated by vocal harassment from a giant size enemy or Esther who knew she had a purpose to fill and so chose to cloth herself in the power of the Holy Spirit to save her people and like Daniel who was provoked publicly to bow before the enemy but instead remained standing in faithfulness to his God and saw the deliverance of His Lord.

Friend, no matter what threats the enemy launches at you today (a pit, a giant, a lions den) make your resolve to NOT BOW to evil, complacency, or rebellion. For you and I can be confident, we have the assurance that God gets the final say and the enemy looses in the end. (Doing my happy dance in the face of the enemy.)

Picture below taken from Canyon Hills.com

Psalm 37-God's Got This.

We had an overwhelming response of contacts this week, asking for the scripture passage quoted by Pastor Torrey in the opening of (June 26, 2011) Sunday morning's service. Pastor Torrey concluded by saying,  "The enemy may appear to be getting away with his plans and schemes, but you can be assured, God's got this."

Psalms 37: 1-13

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;  for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;do not fret—it leads only to evil. 

For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.

David the little boy who killed Goliath, wrote these passages. What I find so amazing is God chose a little shepherd boy to take down the Philistine Giant and save his people. If God can use a little shepherd boy, He surely isn't limited in taking down the giant set against you, your family, your church, your community, your nation!

The enemy would like you to think otherwise, that's why he continues to make threats, just as Goliath did to the armies of Israel. John Hagee said about enemies, "A magnified enemy is one who likes to run his mouth alot, but in reality he can be defeated by one stone!" So do not be intimidated by the enemies threats. His public & private attempts to gain allegiance to his cause, are futile in God's eyes. 

All God needs is one little Shepherd boy who is willing to:

• Put down another man's armor and use his own.
• David told Saul he didn't need his armor. Which lets us know God had equipped little David with all he needed to slay the Giant. You don't need the armor of man when you have the armor of God? 
• Label the enemy.
• David had no problem labeling the enemy. As a matter of fact that's how he addressed him. He called him an "Uncircumcised Philistine"!  (T.D. Jakes said, He makes no apologies in labeling his enemies, because it's God's requirement for defeating them.) When engaged in spiritual warfare, call it what it is and make no apologies. The enemy doesn't like to be exposed -- You can count on it! 
• Pick up your sling and a few stones.
• Be ready to move forward when God says move...but not a minute before.

It's so exciting to be on God's team. Let Him position you on the field anyway He chooses; even if it is to move mountains, slay giants, and free nations! Don't doubt Him, He knows what He's doing.