Yesterday we spent some time with King Asa. We saw that he followed God wholeheartedly for most of his life, but then did not at the end of his life and did things in his own strength. Even though God granted him victory over his enemies he still turned to his own strength. As we saw, this was his demise. Today I want to focus on David and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Before I go any further I think it is important to understand that we are talking about something we are not yet seeing. This explains why. Isaiah 1:1 “Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. 3 The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” 4 Woe to the sinful nation, a people whose guilt is great, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the Lord; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.” In Judges 2 we find that the people Judges 2:10 “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” We also see this in 2 Kings 22:13 “Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” Is it any wonder that Isaiah goes to say Isaiah 1:15 “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!” I believe we are seeing the same results or that is the lack of results as God has turned His face from shining on us because we also have not acted in accordance with all that is written and in our day we have it all written from the Old to the New. We are without excuse.
So as you read the New Testament and read about all the amazing signs and wonders, healings and casting out of the demonic and the saving of many souls, you must understand this can only happen when the Holy Spirit is poured out in power. Since todays church looks nothing like the New Testament example of church, we know that like Samson the presence of the Lord is no longer with us. Samson suddenly found that he had lost his power. The difference with most today is they do not even realize that there is power available for us to have as believers. Most have been taught that God does not empower the believer in our day except of course in other countries but isn’t that our day. So instead of asking the question why is this not happening here, most have accepted the false gospel that God no longer does that. I will say it again; that is not in the bible. What is in the bible are stories of disobedience all showing the same results we are facing today, but since we are so educated here in North America, a new gospel has been sold stating that God only moves in power in the beginning and then lets man flounder away on his own. I would agree with Jonathan Goforth when he said, “My conviction is that the Divine power, so manifest in the Church at Pentecost, was nothing more nor less than what should be in evidence in the Church today. Normal Christianity, as planned by our Lord, was not supposed to begin in the Spirit and continue in the flesh. In the building of His temple it never was by might nor by power, but always by His Spirit.”
This is how it should be and this is why we need to humble ourselves before the Sovereign Lord asking that he would hear us from heaven once again and pour out His spirit on us so that the church will once again be the church He designed it to be and so we then can carry out his mission. In Ephesians we are told Ephesians 6:10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.” Now just to be clear we are not going to approach Goliath in our day with the weapons of the world. 2 Corinthians 10:4 “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” It is only when we get back to living in accordance with the word of God that He will shine his face on us and empower us once again so that we will once again defeat our enemies. Then the same power of Pentecost will flow and the remnant will take root below and bear fruit above.
Are you not getting tired as I am of hearing people in the church proclaiming a powerless God? Proclaiming that the authority Jesus gave his disciples is not available for all who believe today. Are you not getting tired of hearing people say Mark 16, Luke 10 Matthew 10 and all the other examples are not available for today because someone with self-appointed authority said so. Is that not one of the most depressing things you could hear. Let me quote the Apostle Paul and say WAKE UP PEOPLE! There is so much more available for all who believe. We join with Paul in praying Ephesians 1:17 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Mark 16 20 “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.”
So now back to David. The first thing you need to realize is that David was anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit. 2 Samuel 16:13 “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.” Then when David came to the front, he heard Goliath mock the Army of God and that was all he could handle so he said I will fight him. 1 Samuel 16:36 “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God “10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” So when all were afraid the man anointed with the power of God stepped forward in the power of the Holy Spirit to defeat the enemy. So let me ask would you rather hear our leaders saying, God does not do that any more or would you rather hear what 1 Samuel 17:45 “David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” And then see the results.
We are at war and the church is running away just like the armies of Israel did when Goliath mocked them. The enemy is mocking the church today while most do not even know they are at war. Today we need to repent and call out to God to save us. In Judges leaders were raised up like Othniel, Gideon and others. Judges 3:10 “The Spirit of the Lord came on him, so that he became Israel’s judge and went to war.” The same Spirit that came upon them can once again come upon us who believe. The amazing thing about this war is the battle is the Lord’s so we need to humble ourselves before Him so we can be victorious. Just as Moses told the people Exodus 14:13 “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.” 2 Peter 9:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Nehemiah 4 “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Casting Crowns sang, “We were warriors on the front lines Standing, unafraid, But now we're watchers on the sidelines while our families slip away. Where are you, men of courage? You were made for so much more Let the pounding of our hearts cry We will serve the Lord”
If we want to defeat the vast armies that are attacking, we must humble ourselves before our sovereign God and ask for His mercy. We must ask Him to forgive us for listening to these false gospels and becoming powerless and being content with a form of godliness all the while denying his power. Yes there are stories of God moving, I get that but they are not common in the church of North America. Hosea 14:1 “Return, Israel, to the Lord your God. Your sins have been your downfall! 2 Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. 3 Assyria cannot save us; we will not mount warhorses. We will never again say ‘Our gods’ to what our own hands have made. 9 Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”
