A Kingdom Viewpoint and Kingdom Results
I have often taught on Caleb and Joshua as people of a different spirit. They saw the bigness of God rather than the natural barriers of the giants in the land. Most of the Spies saw themselves like grasshoppers and they feared the giants in the land the Lord had promised. There is always someone saying, "How could the people of Israel see all of God's miracles and not believe the Lord that he would give them the land. I was one of those people. One day, I heard the Lord say, "Ken, how do you see me?" When the Lord shows you something there is usually a test. Tests of God prove who he is and his faithfulness as well as the degree of the reality in your life.
One of my tests came during a ministry trip to India. A friend of mine was a native of India and had a large ministry planting churches and training leaders. He had often encouraged me to come with him to India and spend time with his leaders. I have to admit my vision of what I could do was limited. The Lord had used me prophetically several times in churches in the states, but I had very little money and, while I talked about sending others to the field, I really thought it was beyond my reach.
One day, Sam Paul broke through and I consented to go with him if the Lord would provide the funds. I prayed and fasted and the Lord made the way for me to go. Like the people of Israel the Lord showed himself strong as we went into the villages and ministered to people over a two week period. Three hour prayer lines were the norm and as we prayed deaf ears were opened, blind saw and I prayed for demons to be cast out. Some people writhed like a snake before the demons left them. I was exhausted but the final week was a training period for 147 of Sam's regional directors. Most of the time I would be a spectator watching Sam and the local leaders teach. The Sam said, "Brother Ken, tomorrow I want you to teach on the Ephesians 4:11 gifts." It had been a long time since I had studied the gifts and I had little time to prepare. This was my Kadesh Barnea moment. Would I look at this with my own inability or would I press in and trust the Lord the way he had moved in the villages. I stepped up and the Lord brought amazing results in the leaders. Their questions revealed that that really understood what was taught. I was feeling really blessed, but the test wasn't over.
The wrap up of the conference came right after my teaching. All 147 leaders and their wives were to return to their homes after the closing. Sam again said, "Ken, I want you to give a prophetic word for each of these leaders and their wives." I told him that it just didn't work that way based on my experience. However, I prayed and gave it to the Lord. One by one the Lord gave me something to speak over each leader and their wives. Many began to weep, others shared that there was no way I would know the things the Lord share over their lives. I felt like Caleb going into the promised land out obedience the Lord gave me the victory beyond my own capabilities.
Food for thought: With all the chaos around us do we look at the look at the evil giants that seemed to be more powerful than we are? Or do we look at the Mighty God who declares the end from the beginning and will do what he says.
Don't be a grasshopper.
Check out my devotional "Fearlessly Devoted" Old Paths Publishing, available from Amazon
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