"Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, 'Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.'" (1 Samuel 13:19)
And we see how successful the Philistines were. Just a few verses later we read that when the Jews went into battle, there were only two swords among them------ and only the leadership had them. "So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people...." This is judgment on disobedient leadership.
Throughout Church history some "leaders" have taken advantage of such a situation and made sure that they were the only ones who had access to the "blacksmith." The reason is very clear, and diabolical at the same time. They wanted to hold exclusive rights to the weapons so that when victory occurred, they received the credit and the glory and the power for future admiration and surrender to that leadership by followers. If some person around them showed up with powerful weapons, they tended to see them as a threat and made sure they would not have access to that "blacksmith" again. This control "spirit," which is still very much alive today, keeps Christendom from much of the breakthrough power to defeat Satanic forces in the earth.
Contrast Jesus------ Who loved, trained, served, denied Himself, and sent out well equipped warriors. Through those who continued to obey our Lord Jesus Christ Who commanded us to, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations," that persecuted, suffering "band of brothers" conquered the Roman Empire. What the Church could do today with such men!
Father, in Jesus' Name, if I have any successful weapons, help me to pass them on and help others to be, "ready in the day of Your power."
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New Article on Israel's Struggle of Recent Days @: www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
