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It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything.

THE LIFE OF A CHAMPION

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"It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything."  

 

-Chuck Palahniuk 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Champions BYTES  

September 7, 2011 

Don't Substitute Statistics for Trust
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"After this, there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Sippai, of the sons of the giant, and they were subdued."  -The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

 

Sometimes a war arises for your life with the sons of Goliath.  

 

And the phase of a battle continues with a family of voices that have taunted you with a constant reminder of your size, inexperience, inadequacies, fears and failures.

 

David thought Goliath was in his past; but now his sons were retaliating.  It's funny, while we relax after the greatest victory of our life, the enemy is planning the next attack.  He is seeking opportunities to retaliate against the anointed one that cut his authority (or head) off.

 

In the next chapter of David's life, it records: "SATAN [an adversary] stood up against Israel and stirred up David to number Israel" (1 Chr. 21.)

 

Interestingly, before David was royalty, he was unconcerned with any numbers, but one - God.  But now, promotion has made him question the very instincts that got him the position.  So in verse 2:

 

"David said to Joab and the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me the total, that I may know it. And Joab answered, May the Lord multiply His people a hundred times! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why then does my lord require this? Why will he bring guilt upon Israel?  But the king's word prevailed against Joab."

 

Be careful in the things you allow "your words" to prevail against.

 

David substituted statistics for trust.

 

Yet, God has always helped his people prevail even against great odds.  When you look at stats, the union dispute, the diagnosis, the doctor's prognosis of survival, the mounting debt, unemployment rate, recession, problems in your marriage, dysfunction in your family and the attack on your kids, it will always seem overwhelming.

 

But the Bible is filled with wonderful BEFORE and AFTER stories of people whose lives were transformed after they had a God intervention or encounter:

 

BEFORE: Mary Magdalene, woman with seven demons.

AFTER: Delivered and travels (and finances) Jesus' ministry.

 

BEFORE: Zaccheus, the short tax collector who fraudulently collected excessive taxes for himself.

AFTER: Gives back fourfold what he has taken.

 

BEFORE: Woman at the well with six husbands and shacking with a possible seventh.

AFTER: Becomes an evangelist for Jesus and brings the entire city to him.

 

BEFORE: Saul, a murderer of Christians.

AFTER: After his name change to Paul, plants churches and writes 80% of NT.

 

BEFORE: Moses, a murderer and fugitive on the run.

AFTER: Becomes God's spokesperson to lead 3 million people out of Egypt after confronting the Pharaoh that wanted to kill him.

 

Today, what "odds" are against you?

 

What are the odds against your marriage; the odds against your children, your business and finances; the odds against you surviving the diagnosis? 

 

If people are pessimistic about your recovery, do not become offended.

 

They have never seen a miracle; but if you will adhere to, trust in and rely on God:

 

        He will multiply you (and the people you lead) a thousand times more  (Dt. 1:11.)

        He will deliver you from foes stronger than you.

        He will greatly increase you and make you stronger than your oppressors (Ps 105:24.)

        He will drive out enemies before you, and you shall dispossess nations greater and mightier than you (Dt. 11:23)

 

Don't trust the numbers. 

 

Don't count yourself out.  God will come through for you.  He will reverse the news and elevate you to a higher place.

 

Isaiah 38:1-6 portrays a wonderful story of this: 

 

 "IN THOSE days King Hezekiah of Judah became ill and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him and said, Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.  Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord  And said, Remember [earnestly] now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in faithfulness and in truth, with a whole heart [absolutely devoted to You], and have done what is good in Your sight. And Hezekiah wept bitterly.  Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying,  Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add to your life fifteen years.  And I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city [Jerusalem]."

 

Hezekiah's number was up.

 

It is not clear what Hezekiah's death sentence was (what his diagnosis was.)

 

But he was going to die, so with nothing to lose, he turned his face to the wall prayed (cried) and God changed His mind.

 

God heard his prayer and sent the prophet back before he could reach his camel to tell Hezekiah: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears and behold I will add to your life fifteen years."

 

God can add fifteen more years to that failing body, marriage, business, career, ministry or church.

 

Turn your face to the wall and talk to God.  You don't have to accept the diagnosis and prognosis you currently face.  Plan to live, don't plan to die.  Get your house and thoughts in order. 

 

Pray the prayer of Hezekiah in your "city" and watch God will defend it.

 

 

 

 

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Copyright 2011, Ed Norwood