Thursday, December 12, 2019

Snatching Victory From Defeat*

 
The signs of the End Times are increasing all around us. It is a time of many challenges, even persecution, for believers, because the Devil has come down with great wrath, knowing his time is short. Through all however, we are called to snatch victory from defeat. The prophet Isaiah revealed the root cause for the condition of defeat in God's people:
"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God; and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity...Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: And the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor..."   Isa. 59:1-4, 15-16
Isaiah found that the root cause of the failure to see the favor of God is because our own iniquity separates us, isolates us, from Him. The evil things that the world does, we, God's people, are doing also. We are participating in the very things God has said that He hates, and even considers abomination, according to His Word found in Prov. 6:16-19. 
Isaiah goes on to say that as no man has stepped forward in word or prayer:
"...therefore his (God's) arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies;...So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun."  v. 16-19
The LORD sent His own salvation and righteousness, in the absence of it in man. Though conditions in the natural were total defeat, the LORD brought victory out of the spiritual realm. This is where the greatest victory comes from- not from the earthly realm, but the heavenly realm:
"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard ("nus"- to cause to disappear, to put to flight) against him. And the redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD."  v. 19
In this spiritual victory over the enemy that the LORD has gotten by His own arm, the results are wide-sweeping. His Redeemer comes, and God's people who repent reap the great benefits:
"As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; my spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy (the prophet's) mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed...from henceforth and for ever. Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."   Isa. 59:21, 60:1-3
The same Spirit that anointed the prophet, and directed the words in his mouth, will also be upon the people. We are to speak the same word, the homologea, as God speaks in scripture. His glory, the same glory as the Father and Himself, shall be upon us, even as Jesus prayed (Jn. 17:22). That light and glory will bring Gentiles and kings, sons and daughters to us and to Him (v. 4).
We see examples of victory being snatched from defeat in scripture, like David, bare handed, snatching his lambs from the mouths of lions and bears. In Exodus, Moses and the children of Israel were trapped with the Sea in front of them, and the greatest king at the time, Pharaoh of Egypt, and his army coming up behind them. The people, seeing only the defeat that faced them in the natural, despaired at Moses for bringing them out of Egypt into the wilderness to die (Ex. 14:12). However, Moses declared to them:
"Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."  v. 13-14
As Moses raised his rod as God instructed him, and stretched forth his hand over the sea, the waters were parted and heaped up like walls, and the children of Israel went through the Sea on dry ground (v. 22). When the Egyptian army pursued them into the sea, the waters, at the direction of Moses, returned upon the army, and not one escaped (v. 27-28).
At a time when he had been anointed, but had not yet become king, David faced one of his greatest possible defeats if seen through the natural circumstances. When David and his men had come to Ziklag (meaning "winding, an out flowing of a fountain"), the Amalekites (descendants of Esau) had raided it, set it on fire, and taken all of their wives and children, including David's two wives (1 Sam. 30:1-3). David and his men wept with despair. His men even talked of stoning him, because he had led them to this place of defeat. However, David encouraged (to be firm, restore to strength, display strength, repair) himself in the LORD (v. 6). David then sent for the priest and inquired of the LORD whether he should pursue the enemy, and the LORD gave him the word to pursue: "...for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all." (v. 8). David and a portion of his men did indeed attack the Amalekites, not only recovering their families and possessions, but the huge spoil of the Amalekites as well. And all the spoil, called "David's spoil" was divided among all, even his weary men who had staid behind at the brook Besor (root meaning: gladden with good news, glad tidings, show forth, messenger, preach, announce salvation), and also with others who had supported David throughout Judah and beyond. This is also an encouragement for all in the Body of Christ who have been a support to others who have been in ministry.
In the natural circumstances, it seemed that David faced losing his family, his prophesied kingship, even his life. However, shortly after the miraculous victory over the Amalekites, Saul was killed, and David did indeed become king. From defeat to victory is the miraculous work of God in His people.
In these Last Days before Christ's return, it seems that there are many things about which to feel discouraged and even fearful. There are many voices that are shouting "Defeat!" to those who love God. However, we have been called to snatch victory from defeat in the name of Jesus, our salvation, and that victory is achieved first in the Spirit by the Word in our mouths, and then manifests in the natural. As the word of the LORD was seen by Isaiah:
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."  Isa. 2:1-3
This is the word of "victory" in our mouths through the arm of God - His Son, Jesus the Messiah, our righteousness and our salvation.

*The above is based upon the 12/8/19 message to the Church from Dr. Kenneth Stevenson. 

To Contact/Submit prayer requests/Support the ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH-White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", and to help us get out the message:
Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
P.O. Box 154221
Waco, TX  76705

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8


http://endtimeschool.com/

To watch/hear Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.
 
Dr. Stevenson's newest book is now available:
NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling  

 


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