From Messages
by Guest Speaker, Bother Fredrick on December 30, 2018
Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found (I Samuel 13:19–22, KJV).
Doing What’s Right
Throughout the Bible, there were many years when men, kings, rulers, and leaders did evil in the sight of the Lord. During these years, man did what was right in his own eyes, but this led them down the path to destruction. We must realize there are some things in life we cannot change and some things we cannot do! We won’t win when we do what’s right in our own eyes. This is why God gave us a Pastor to lead us so we can do what’s right according to the Word of God.
What’s Best for Us
The Middle East has been in constant turmoil since Biblical times; there were always battles. Today, Israel is surrounded by countries that want to dominate them. No matter what, the Nation acts in accordance what’s best for them. Likewise, our God will always act in accordance with what’s best for us. Regardless of what we feel, see, or think, God is in control of our life! We can’t be upset about what’s happening in our life: the promises of God are yea and amen.
Losing Our Smiths
We can’t do what everything thinks we should do because this will produce a weakened state. Our key Scripture notes how Israel became a weakened state because of disobedience (one mistake). The Philistines came in and overtook the Nation. Their first action was to remove the blacksmiths and put them in their own employment. They eliminated Israel’s ability to create weapons in the future. When Nebuchadnezzar came to attack later on, Israel had to go to the Philistines to purchase weapons!
Today, the world is still coming against the church. False doctrine is trying to creep in and remove our ability to “make weapons” to fight. It wants the church to do what’s right in our own eyes and lay aside what used to be sacred to us. We need smiths in the house of God that will declare they’re not going to be what the world wants them to be.
Keep Your Weapons
One of the key weapons of the church is our worship. We can’t allow Satan to rob us of our worship. If we refuse to worship, we’re no different than the remainder of the world. Remember, in His presence, there is fullness of joy.
Life is going to be much easier and promises will come quicker when we do it God’s way. Living God’s way is following after a life of separation and distinction. When we don’t keep ourselves separate, we’ve become a people that don’t have any smiths. Don’t allow yourself to become “de-weaponized” in or outside of God’s house! In 2019, we must make up our minds that we’re not going to lose our smiths!
