This is part 2 of 'prayer is not for wimps'. We read in part 1 about how the seeming lack of discernment on Abners part led to his untimely demise. Mighty warrior though he was, he never really stood a chance against his hidden foe Joab.
Now lets turn to another mighty man well trained in the art of battle like Abner. He however depended on prayer like no other. In fact he realised his very life depended on it. Let me introduce to you King David. You may have already guessed.
‘How are the mighty fallen’ exclaimed the sweet psalmist of Israel when God forsaken King Saul and his wise son Jonathan died in battle. ‘How are the mighty fallen’ lamented David sorrowfully. 2 Sam 1:19-27
I don’t know what Heaven feels or looks like in its entirety for now….. but I can with confidence imagine Philippians 4:8 (things to think on) that it will certainly not be like any of these:
Some people find peace in their own ways:
Some find solace in their favorite TV Programs
Some in a nice quiet evening with a good book
Some by listening to classical music
Some by going on holiday
Some by going to a place of rest or chapel
Some by visiting a grave yard
Some by sending the kids to bed early
Some by avoiding people altogether
Some on a lake in a boat
Some by going to the opera
Some in themselves
And so on and so forth…..
I recently read the well-known book 'Good Morning Holy Spirit' by Pastor Benny Hinn. Like everyone else who has read the book, I was blown away and enthralled by the revelations about the person of the Holy Spirit. As I read on I became inquisitive about the rest of Pastor Benny’s ministry, so I went online to search him up. You can imagine my shock when the first item that popped up was Pastor Benny Remarries???!!!
Ohh I was confused….how could this be…I read on and then the whole story unfolded. He had gone through a divorce and remarried his first and only love. Suzanne.
Kind David in the bible is one of my favourite characters but it’s funny how his appearance almost worked against him. He is or was described as being rosy cheeked (ruddy) and quite handsome.
When Samuel went to anoint a replacement king for Israel David’s dad didn’t think to call David to get looked at by Samuel for he must have thought ‘how could my baby boy be the one’.
David’s brother also judged him at the battle line where he reprimanded David for wanting to take on Goliath
Faith is essential to a christian. without it we cannot even accept that God exists let alone come to him. Faith will come by hearing and hearing by the word of God. However Faith once built must be protected.
I once came across a gospel tract many years ago that went something like this…..
Too Little – Picture of a baby
Too Young – Picture of a child
Too Carefree – Picture of a teenager / youth
Too Happy – Picture of young men and women absorbed in the pleasures and ambitions of life
Too Busy – Picture of a family man and woman looking after children
Too Old - Picture of a frail and weak old man / woman
Too Late – Picture of a coffin
I remember the first time I watched the X-Factor. It didn't take long for me to get addicted. At the time I was blissfully unaware (Proverbs 7:7) that I was being drawn away from the Holy Spirit by the strange woman in the book of Proverbs 7. (Do read this when you can)
The bible tells us in Exodus 34:29 that Moses face was radiant because he had spoken to the Lord (received the law on how to live at that time in those days post Egypt). After these meetings with God Moses wore a veil over his face to speak to Aaron and the leaders of the community as they were afraid of this radiance. Radiant means amongst other things to emit light, heat or in some cases vivacious happiness.
...........Pause to think (John 1:5) - The light shineth in darkness but the darknes comprehended it not.