The power of the spoken Word - The Deborah Story

Judges 4:14 says, "Up! For this is the day the Lord has delivered 'Sisera' into your hand. Has not the Lord gone out before you?" 

It was Deborah the prophetess who declared these words to Barak (who would then lead Israel to battle against Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, the enemy of Israel). 'Sisera' is a 'picture' of whatever the devil throws at you (i.e. sickness, financial lack, fear, discouragement, etc).

Let's begin with the background story. At that time, Israel was already 'disorderly' and 'at a low' for twenty years, having been sold into the hand of Jabin the king of Canaan, and was harshly oppressed. But when they cried out to the Lord, God heard their cry and raised up a prophetess named Deborah (Judges 4:3-4), who would then 'put things back to order' for Israel.

The name 'Deborah' comes from the root word 'dabar' in Hebrew, which means 'to arrange, to speak (spoken words), to utter, to declare or to pronounce (either victory for God's people, or destruction to the enemy), and to subdue (as the Word is spoken)'. Another meaning of 'Deborah' is 'bee' (having systematic instinct, having a sense of orderliness, or putting things in order). So, to summarize, the name 'Deborah' means 'to put things back to order by the declaration of the spoken words'.

As Deborah declared what God has spoken (Judges 4:14), and as Barak went down to battle against Sisera, the Bible says 'the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword' (Judges 4:15). Not a man was left (Judges 4:16), and Sisera had to run for his life! What Deborah has declared eventually came to pass in the natural realm! The 'sword' here is a 'picture' of the spoken Word of God (Ephesians 6:17). And then, as Sisera hid at Jael's place, Jael took a tent 'peg' and a 'hammer', and she drove the 'peg' into Sisera's temple (area between eye and ear), and Sisera died (Judges 4:21). And on that day, God subdued Jabin king of Canaan in the presence of the children of Israel (Judges 4:23). Interestingly, 'peg' (Ecclesiastes 12:11) and 'hammer' (Jeremiah 23:29) are also 'pictures' of the spoken Word of God!

Now, before I move on, let me emphasize that we are now living in the New Covenant, and we don't fight 'flesh and blood' with bloodshed. Ephesians 6:12 clearly says our real enemy is the devil (i.e. against principalities and powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, and spiritual hosts of wickedness), not human (flesh and blood). So, let's read the Old Testament in the right context, i.e. from the New Covenant perspective (when 'agape' love has already been poured out on us). The 'sword, peg, and hammer' are merely 'pictures' of 'the spoken Word of God' in our time.

The Bible says 'Israel was not in order UNTIL Deborah arose' (Judges 5:7). In short, Deborah arose 'to put Israel back to order by the spoken Word of God', and as a result, Israel had rest for a good long forty years after that! (Judges 5:31)

Remember when the devil tempted Jesus (Luke 4:1-13), Jesus Himself also answered with the spoken Word? (He said, "It is written,...") So, if 'sickness' comes your way, declare that "Jesus has borne my sins upon the cross, and by His stripes I was healed" (1 Peter 2:24). Or if 'fear' comes your way, speak forth "God has not given me the spirit of fear, but He has given me the Spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). The list goes on! And that's how you subdue by your spoken words! Choose specific verses (instead of paragraphs) in the Bible to subdue a particular problem. The Bible as a whole is likened to the 'sunlight', and as you focus on specific verses to tackle a particular problem, it's like you holding a 'lens' to concentrate the sunlight till the 'object' (the problem) under the 'lens' is set on fire and burned! That's how the Word of God destroys the work of darkness!

Beloved of God, begin filling yourself with the Word of God day by day. Notice that if you don't fill yourself with the Word, something else will fill you! Begin to personalize verses that have spoken to you and  make them yours! Speak them over & over again as you 'saturate' yourself with the spoken Word of God every day!

Angels are for you!

Psalm 34:7: The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear (revere) Him, and delivers them'. 

The word 'angel' here is ‘malak’ in Hebrew, which means not just ‘messenger', but also 'to despatch as a deputy’. Imagine angels 'despatching' and bringing ‘goodies’ from the throne of God to you! And that's exactly what they do for you! These 'goodies' can be in the form of a healing, a revelation, comforting words, direction in life, or even finance and open doors in your career!

In Hebrews 1:14, the Word of God says 'are they (angels) not ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?' Who are those 'who will inherit salvation'? That's us, the believers of Christ, i.e. Christians, the heirs of salvation! Now, the verse says 'angels are sent forth to minister for the believers'. Notice the word 'for', not 'to'. In other words, angels are sent by God to minister for you! It doesn't say they 'minister to you'. It says they 'minister for you'. You know what it means? Angels (i.e. ministering spirits) are sent to serve you. Let's say you are in a restaurant, and the waiter comes along and wait on you for your order. You then turn your order in, and he goes and gets it for you!

I remember reading how the late brother Kenneth E. Hagin (a man of God whom I respect) prayed a prayer like this, "Satan, hands off my providence!". And then, he went on by saying, "Ministering spirits (angels), go and cause providence to come in!" You know what? Money somehow came in! It happened not just one time. It happened many times! Praise the Lord!

When my wife, Sharon was in her younger days, she used to have a sharp, nagging pain in the middle of her chest. One day, as she was resting in her bedroom, talking to God and being in His presence, suddenly a translucent figure (the size of a well-built person as tall as the height of her room, and dressed in a warrior outfit) walked through the wall of her room, knelt down and touched where the pain was, and then left. You know what? The pain was immediately gone, and she was completely healed since then! Hallelujah!

People of God, know that angels are on your side, fighting for you (those who inherit salvation). As you preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, angels are definitely at work too, bringing healing, restoration, comfort, or other 'goodies' to confirm your preaching of the good news!

As an heir of salvation, you can also be assured of angelic protection too (Psalm 91:11-12). Believe for it. Once, I experienced how in a split second, an 'invisible hand' moved my arm on the steering and caused my car to be swerved to safety while I was driving near a T-junction. It happened so fast, and only then I realized there was another car moving towards my side at a break-neck speed! I knew I've been delivered from a fatal car accident that could've taken my life! I believe this 'hand' was that of an angel's as well! Thanks be to God!

I used to wonder why the verse in Psalm 34:7 (about angels encamping around us) was written in the middle of nowhere in a Psalm that talks about 'the happiness of those who trust in God'. Then, the Lord asked me to read Psalm 34:7 in the 'right context', beginning from Psalm 34:4 till Psalm 34:10. This is how Psalm 34:7 should be read and understood in its 'right context':

"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces are never covered with shame. He called, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear (revere) Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; and blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear (revere) the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear (revere) Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing ('goodies')" (Psalm 34:4-10). You may want to personalize these verses for yourself. As you seek Him (i.e. connect to Him) and look to Him, He is the One activating and releasing angels to encamp around you!

Thank God for angels being sent forth to bring every form of 'goodies' to you, and you'll never be in any want (or lacking any 'good thing'). Beloved, taste and see how good God is in your life! Believe for it. Amen!

Resting at your 'terebinth' tree

Genesis 18:1: Then the Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.

The word 'terebinth tree' in Hebrew literally means 'a strong tree, like an oak tree; or strength', and the word 'Mamre' here means 'vigor'. This 'tree' is actually a 'picture' of the cross, where Jesus finished His work some 2,000 years ago. Galatians 3:13 says, 'cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'. The Bible says Jesus has become a curse for us, so that we are set free (from the curse of sin), redeemed, and now receiving the blessings of Abraham (Galatians 3:13-14). The Bible also says Jesus who knew no sin has become sin for us, so that we are now made righteous (in right standing) through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

As you lean & rest on this 'tree', you'll find perfect rest. Jesus has become your 'strength'. The psalmist wrote 'He is your strength, and your one sure foundation' (see Psalm 46)! In Him, you are now therefore 'invigorated', 'revitalized', and 'refreshed' again! Hallelujah!

Friends, what has been burdening you lately? Is it a concern for someone in your family, or your spouse, or your children? Or maybe it's a business/career concern or direction, or a financial burden. Or maybe your health. Cast all these burden to Jesus. He has carried them all on the cross (Isaiah 53:4-5). Or maybe you aren't exactly sure what's the next step in life. Cast these also to Jesus. He is the One who cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

Someone asked me this question: "Have I done enough lately?" My answer was: "Even if you have been working 23 hours every day, you may still ask the same question!" Well, we are living in such a world now, where everything seems to be at an accelerating speed, and 'time' never seems to be enough! The next thing you know, a new week has 'come and gone' again, and that's while you are still catching up on your breath!

Beloved, there's only one place that's truly 'enough', and it's only found in Jesus. The Bible says 'His grace is enough (sufficient) for you' (2 Corinthians 12:9). If earthly things have recently left you 'dry' and 'unsatisfied', come to Jesus. Take a deep breath (in fact, another word for 'rest' in Hebrew means 'taking a deep breath'). He is where you find perfect 'rest & refresh'. Rest in Him. And imagine you are in the middle of a desert and you find an 'oasis' of drinking water! He is indeed your 'oasis'. So, come & drink freely from Him. Jesus also says, 'Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest' (Matthew 11:28), 'for My yoke is easy and My burden is light' (Matthew 11:30).

So, what exactly is your 'terebinth' tree?

A 'terebinth' tree is where you lay all your burden to Him, and in return, you receive His (which is light and easy). Genesis 18:4 says, 'let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the (terebinth) tree'. Jesus has indeed carried all your heavy yoke and burden on the cross. Therefore, yours is now light and easy. Not only that, at the 'tree', you'll also come to a place of 'washing of the water', being refreshed by the water of His Word and His Spirit.

It's also at this 'tree' that God appeared to Abraham and Sarah, and He spoke to them. There, they received the promise of a son. So, you can also say it's a place of 'meeting with God', and a place of 'promise'. And last but not least, it's also a place where they found comfort & assurance, when God said, 'is anything too hard for God?' (Genesis 18:14)