
Tag Archives: victory. purpose
God of Sudden Surprises- Joseph (2) (by Fenny West)
Greatness Is In You (by Fenny West)
Pursue Now, Overtake, Recover All (Sermon& Song) by Fenny West
Pursue Now, Overtake, Recover All
1 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire,
2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.
3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.
4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive.
6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
7 Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
8 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.“
9 So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind.
10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.
11 Then they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he ate, and they let him drink water.
12 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. So when he had eaten, his strength came back to him; for he had eaten no bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights.
13 Then David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” And he said, “I am a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind, because three days ago I fell sick.
14 We made an invasion of the southern area of the Cherethites, in the territory which belongs to Judah, and of the southern area of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.”
15 And David said to him, “Can you take me down to this troop?” So he said, “Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this troop.”
16 And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.
17 Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.
18 So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives.
19 And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.
1Sam30:1-19
Paraphrase
David, the anointed man of God, who was after the heart of God; the man who defeated Man-mountain Goliath who was taunting and ridiculing the armies of the living God, is now in hiding running from pillar to post. The man who caused the light to be turned on in Israel after flooring that wicked macho giant is now running with his life in his hands and what more hiding in the land of the Philistines. He even feigned madness at one time to prevent being thrown out as a persona non granta, just like some of us were thrown out at one time for working without a work permit.
However in this dungeon, hideout and valley of life God gave him favour with the down and out, the disgruntled, disgusted, disaffected, disgraced, dispossessed; those in despair, vagabonds, you name it they came, were attracted to David’s anointing- a man running from persecution for removing the reproach from Israel as the Holy Spirit used him. How Ironical!
David recycled these crude and rude boys into a highly disciplined, formidable fighting machine and they were wining battles for some wealthy people under threat of dispossession. They were like G4S – the company set up to provide security during the London 2012 Olympics who could not deliver and caused a big fiasco at the last minute. The Government had to quickly draft in the military to cover the loophole. Yes, David was a security guard; man who had been anointed by Prophet Samuel was now a fugitive. It was as if it was over for him. The enemy had high-jacked his vision set fire on it and laughing, ‘Let’s see you come back and fulfil vision.’
Is that your story today? You know God called you to be the head but the enemy has boxed you somewhere to make you the tail. You know that you are more than a conqueror through Christ but the enemy has defeated you woefully and is saying, ‘Next?’ These men knew that so long as they remained with David, they were sure where the next meal will come from. They could smell and touch the anointing upon his life despite what he was going through and so they were loyal.
However, One day as David and his men came back from their security work- night-shift, they could not believe what the enemy had done. They raided their stronghold and carried away all their wives, children and property. The mighty men of David, the warriors who had thought David could never do wrong were so devastated that they wanted to stone the man of God. They thought, ‘This man is either a fake or has lost the anointing and inflicted this grave damage on us.’
David was also down-hearted; disappointed that he had disappointed the people- they were suffering because of him. It was hard to understand why God had allowed this to happen even in his hiding. However, he encouraged himself in the Lord and sought the face of the Lord, recalling the psalms he had written earlier:
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
Ps1
1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.”
7 “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘ You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ “Ps2:1-9
1 LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
2 Many are they who say of me, ” There is no help for him in God.” Selah
3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and
the One who lifts up my head.
4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.
7 Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah
Ps3
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident.
4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.
11 Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
Ps27
And while enquiring of the Lord, David did not mince words. He asked specific questions like: also heard while enquiring of the Lord:
8 “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.“
Glory be to God! God still speaks. If you seek Him you will find Him, if you seek Him with all your heart.
Your enemy thinks he has won because he has brought you from frying pan into fire. He and his cohorts are rejoicing, in great glee, but through our God we shall do valiantly. If God be for us, who can be against us? God is working everything together for the good of those who love Him and who are the called according to purpose. Stand and see the salvation of the Lord. The battle is not yours but the Lords. This dross will be turned into Gold, in Jesus’ Name!
The Lord used an Egyptian
13 Then David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” And he said, “I am a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind, because three days ago I fell sick.
14 We made an invasion of the southern area of the Cherethites, in the territory which belongs to Judah, and of the southern area of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.”
This young man was like the Holy Spirit, who has been called to be our Strenghtener-to strengthen us for battle even in these end times and last days; He is our Guide, come to give us divine direction; He is our Comforter in distress, the Anointing that breaks every bondage of defeat’ 27 It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.Isa.10:27
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ” This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.
Isa30:21
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.
Ps37:23
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
John16:23
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
Prov4:18
David was able to persuade the disgruntled men. As he spoke to them they could see the fire in his eyes and the anointing of God, and they believed in Him, His God and in themselves, once again. Some people were not that convinced and were battle weary and wanted to just lie down and lie. But others followed David and the mysterious guide to the stronghold of the Amalekites and they fought them from morning to evening without looking back. God was behind them. He had given His word: ‘Pursue them, overtake them and recover all and so it would be if David obeyed that word and went and fought. Yes, it was in the place of David to motivate those men to go out and fight with him. He did not need all of them, just like Gideon. He certainly did not need the fearful but a few committed, faithful and disciplined fighters. And just like God used Gideon’s 300 to defeat the Midianites, who were like the sands of the sea- over 100,000, so He used these few men who agreed to follow David to completely , comprehensively wipe out and vanquish the Amelikites, and recovered all their wives and property. They came back loaded, gyrating, rejoicing with all their wives and children safe and well. What a mighty God we serve! What a glorious and victorious God we serve!
Have you been held captive by the enemy of your soul? Have you been imprisoned and dispossessed you and now made you so dispirited that you want to quit? Has the enemy stolen all your goods, plucked out your vision and is making sport of you, taunting you day and night, sing with his cohorts, ’We got him, we got him, or we got her , we got her.’
Stand to see the salvation of the Lord. God is behind and before you. Fear not
” Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life.
5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west;
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth —
You’re coming back from captivity. You are coming back from defeat! you’re coming back from dethronement. you’re coming back from the dead. get up and go agin in the name of the Lord. every place that the enemy has defeated you, rise and conquer him in the name of the Lord of Host. Jesus sai; behold I am he tat was dead , but now I ‘m aliuve and alive for evrer more and hold the keys of detha and Hades. the Kid d
“Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Rev1:18
“He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:
Rev3:7
10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isa41:
29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Isa40
Pursue now, overtake and recover all!
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.2Cor2:14
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom8
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by forceMatt11:12
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.Rev12:11
Purrsue now, overtake and recover all, because youare a winner not a loser. Jesus won the victory for you on clavary’s cross. oursue those enemies of your. spare them not wherever they lurk go by the leading of the Holy spirit and He will show them to you fish them out and flush them awy and bind the stroingman and take everything that has been stolen from you. give them no ground to gloat and rejoice in glee. Youwill have Isaac, the last laugh in Jesus name. you more than a conqueror. Take what belongs to you by force, in the name of Jesu! enforce the victory He has won for you. goi with holy anger and ferocity. leave no stones unturned until you recover all. God is for you with you and in you. 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”John16:33
“Listen, (all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat) ! Put your name there.
Thus says the LORD to you:
‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
16 Tomorrow go down against them. 2Chro.20:15-16
God will fight for you and you will hold your peace, but you have to go up against them in the name of the Lord of Host.
As King Saul said to David: “Go, and the LORD be with you!”
I say, in the name of the Lord, and by the unction of the Holy Spirit, ‘Go, and the Lord be with YOU! Regardless of past failure and how late you think it is, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you. Regardless of your age, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you. No matter how bankrupt you are, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you!
Do not use carnal weapons. Use what God has given you- the sling and stone, in your hand- that which looks insignificant, inconsequential, disdained by the world around you. Use what I have given you and you will see that giant of a goliath come tumbling down. Know that God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise the things that are despise to bring to nought the things that are esteemed. Cast not away your confidence, for in is a great recompense of a reward. (Heb10:35)
You will not come out empty-handed. You’re coming out loaded to the glory of God. The Promised Land is yours for you to enter and occupy until He comes. refuse any foe from dislodging you and dispossessing you. enter and occupy , enter and possess your possession.
Say, like David, to your Goliath:
“You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
9 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth.
50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.
51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.
52 Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.
1Sam17
Pursue now, child of God, redeemed of the Lord, blood-bought, blood-kept, ransomed, the righteousness of God, the arm of the Lord. Out on strength, do not fear. God has not given you a Spirit of fear but that of Love and of power and of a sound mind.
Pursue now, overtake and recover all.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous run into it and are saved. You will be saved as you hide under the Shadow of the wings of the Most high. Those who come against you in one way will flee in seven ways. The Lord will set your feet upon a rock as your enemies run, cow and hide and as you take everything that they have stolen, restore with a hundred-fold interest.
36 ” You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your gentleness has made me great.
37 You enlarged my path under me; So my feet did not slip.
38 ” I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them; Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
39 And I have destroyed them and wounded them, So that they could not rise; They have fallen under my feet.
40 For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose against me.
41 You have also given me the necks of my enemies, So that I destroyed those who hated me.
42 They looked, but there was none to save; Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.
43 Then I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth; I trod them like dirt in the streets, And I spread them out.
2Sam22:36-43
“Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.“
20/8/12
Pursue, Overtake and Recover all
CH: Pursue now, overtake and recover all
In the day of His power, let not your strength be small
The Lord is on your side.
Get up now and go.
In His shadow abide,
To defeat every foe.
The Lord created all
He made both great and small
And if He is for you,
Tell me Who can be against you?
See, I give to you
The sceptre of deliverance.
Behold I bequeath to you
My power, so sing and dance.
I have gone before you
Making crooked paths straight.
A new anointing I give to you
Making rough places smooth.
Pursue, overtake, recover all
That giant will surely fall
Be strong and be bold.
Go like David of old.
The weapons of your warfare
Are not carnal (2Cor.10:4)
They are mighty through God
To the pulling down of stronghold.
Rise out of the valley of decision.
Step out of the valley of confusion
Follow His voice as His sheep.
Be led of His Spirit as His sheep.
http://christian-talk.forumotion.com/t5839-pursue-now-overtake-recover-all#11154
http://youtu.be/OjI3gwHxZeg
Pursue overtake and recover all
Sermon by Darrell McClaren, Pastor of Harvest Time Assembly
Sing a New Song (sermon) Fenny West
“At the age of 98 Pastor Willis was admitted to a care facility in a hospital
in a wheelchair.
Bed-ridden a few years later, He spoke with enthusiasm of how he was in
the best possible position to look up to God.
When he died at 100, he left a legacy of one who sang a new song at every
turn in his life.” (Our daily Bread)
Ps 98 exhorts us to sing a new song.
We ought to praise him even in times of difficulties
Though this is about God’s deliverance from slavery it is also prophetic
to us today, in that we can trust Him regarding today’s difficulties and
tomorrow uncertainties.
The Psalmist wrote,
‘ . . . Let the sea roar
let us joy in his salvation . . . ’
I don’t know about tomorrow and what coming days will bring, but I know
that my Lord is with me. “A heart in tune with God sings songs of praise.
“Our Daily Bread
And so reader, those who know their God, can look forward to the coming
days, months and years, not with trepidation or foreboding but with great
anticipation and confidence because we know whom we serve and we know
whom we believe, because the word of God tells us: ‘The steadfast love of
the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to end. They are new every
morning and great is His faithfulness.’ (Lam3:23)
‘Be not anxious for nothing but in EVERYTHING by prayer and petition
with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God. And the
peace of God which transcends all understanding, will garrison your heart
and your mind in Christ Jesus.’ (Phil.4:6-7)
Learning from David
Let us take a leaf or a lesson from David of old, who remembered his
mercies in times past and focused on God in difficult times.
When faced with man-mountain Goliath he began to review the past; how
God had helped him to overcome the bear that came to have his sheep for
lunch and also how He helped him to overcome the lion that came to have
his sheep for supper. As we review the past, we will be encouraged to trust
God for the present difficulties we face and the uncertainties of tomorrow,
and we will be able to give glory to God, singing a new song in our present
circumstance. When we review the past it will give us strength for today
and hope for tomorrow to match on and conquer whatever Goliath that
stands in the way. Because we know our God reigns and His thoughts
towards us are not thought of evil but of good, the best, to give us a future
filed with hope.
Again we see in 2Samuel how David encouraged himself when the
Amalekites’ raiding party came, swooped down unannounced and carried
away all his wives, livestock, the wives and children and property of his
companions in Ziglag. David stood dry, dejected and devastated and to
add salt to injury his men turned against him and wanted to stone him.
They saw him as the source of their woes. What did David do? He did not
call a pity party. If he did he would be the only one in that party. David was
wise. Rather than wallow in the mire of disappointment, he ‘encouraged
himself in the Lord. I have often thought about how he did it and what he
may have done. Possibly he reviewed Psalm 23: ‘the Lord is my Shepherd,
I shall not want; for He leads me beside green pastures . . . Yea though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you
are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me.
Ps 27—the Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear. The Lord
is the stronghold of my life . . . Though an army encamp around me, they
will stumble and fall . . . my heart will not fear . . . You will lift my head
above my enemies, make me stand upon a rock.
Ps3 You are a shield around me Lord, my glory, the One Who lifts up my
head. I will not fear ten thousands of men that stand against me on every
side. I lie down and I sleep. I wake again sustained by the Lord.
Ps2 ‘Why do the nations rage and the people imagine vain things?. The
Lord who sits in heaven laughs . . . . ask of me and I will give you the nations
for your inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession.’
And after going through a few of his psalms which, reminded him of the
faithfulness of God in times past, David was renewed, energized, revitalized,
invigorated, enthused to go on, press on for the mark of the price of the
high calling in his God.
Happy are those who can live in your presence wherever they go, always
singing praises. Happy are those who are strong in you, who set their minds
on You regardless of what they face. When they walk through the valley of
weeping it will become a place of refreshing springs where pools of blessing
collect after the rain. They will continue to grow stronger—going from
glory to glory and from strength to strength. Barriers will birth blessings and
obstacles will birth miracles. You give them songs in the night. God will give you a song in your night as you look to Him.( Ps84:4-7)
Jehoshaphat also has a lesson to teach:
He faced a similar insurmountable problem when three powerful
nations, with an army like the sand in the seashore came againstJudah.
The king was naturally afraid but he plucked up courage and went before
his God and did the right thing,-declaring a time for fasting and praying.
He even led the prayer meeting. And after praying a covenant prayer,
reminding God of what He had done for them as a nation in times past,
His promises to them, and in particular, His covenant with Abraham he
concluded with, ‘we do not know what to do but our eyes are on You.’
God responded in a prophecy through Gahaziel:
‘Listen to me, O Judah, and you King Jehoshaphat, the battle is not yours
but the Lord’s. Tomorrow you go up against them.’
And as they obeyed, God gave them a strategy to sing a covenant song:
‘Praise ye the Lord, His mercy endures forever . . . ’ As they began to
sing this song, God laid an ambush against their enemies who began to
destroy themselves. They completely annihilated themselves and littered
the whole battlefield with bodies and booties.
When it was all said and done it transpired that where the enemy had
summoned Judah and King Jehoshaphat for battle became the bread basket
for the people of God and it took three whole days for them to gather the
goodies left behind.
This is what awaits you as you sing a new song in your circumstance. God
will grant you new mercies, new grace, new vista of hope, new impetus,
and new zeal, to go from glory to glory, faith to faith. He will give you
surprises that will blow your mind, far beyond your wildest dreams. What
your enemies thought will ruin you will turn out to be a blessing. Your
setbacks will become a setup for a lift up and a comeback.
Paul preached a powerful sermon from his prison cell inPhilippi
Paul and Silas were obedient servants of God, preaching the Gospel in
Philippi. They rattled the cage of some soothsayers and magicians and
adversaries of the Gospel who conspired and instigated their arrest, beating
and battering these men of God., It was as if God had abandoned His own.
They were thrown into prison with their hands and feet in stock—straight
jackets. They could hardly move. What did they do? Moan, complain,
throw temper tantrums, and point the finger at God? No! At mid-night
they sang a new song, praying and singing loudly so that other prisoners
heard them.
I could imagine Paul telling Silas, ‘Brother, let’s pray.’ And as they finished
praying, he said, ‘Now let’s sing praises to God.’ Silas may have been
surprised, and may have responded, ‘Brother Paul we are here for preaching,
now you want us to sing. Do you think it is a wise move? Something far
worse may happen to us.’
Paul and Silas preached in songs.
Paul continued, ‘Let us sing brother, Silas.
Silas: What shall we sing?
Paul: He set me free.
Silas: What? But we are still in jail! Can we sing that when we are set free?
Paul: No, this is the time. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the
evidence of things not seen; we walk by faith and not by sight.
Silas: Well, you raise the song and I will follow
.
And they began to sing:
“He set me free, one day, He set me free.
He broke the chains of prison for me.
I’m glory bound my Jesus to see.
Praise the Lord He set me free.
‘Set free to worship
set free to praise him
set free to rejoice before the throne
. . . I laugh I dance I shout I sing
alleluia to my Lord and King
“Set free to rejoice for evermore.’
‘What a mighty God we serve
Heaven and earth adore Him
Angel bow before Him
what a mighty God we serve.”
‘I am delivered O praise the Lord
I am delivered by His word
For the chains of sin are broken
I am delivered, O praise the Lord.
There’s been a great change in me,
O great change in me
I am so happy I am so free
He brought me out of bondage into liberty
O, O, O, there’s a great change in me.’
And as they continue to sing these songs of deliverance over and over again,
at midnight, their praise rose to God as a sweet-smelling aroma. God was
enjoying the sacrifice of praise and began to tap His feet, and when God
begins to tap His feet earthquake is the result. The jail was rocked from
its foundations and their chains fell off. Glory be to God!
They were set free. The jailor got the news of the jail being rocked and flung open and
his heart sank thinking all the prisoner had run away. He wanted to take his life and Paul and Silas shouted out:
‘Do not harm yourself. We are all
here.’ He was so convicted that he said: ‘What must I do to be saved?’ Paul
immediately told him ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you
and your household.’
We can all see the purposes of God in allowing his children to go through
what they went through. When you see your trials through the eyes of
God, you will see the purpose and you too will rejoice because His plans
for us are not plans of evil but of good to give us a future and a hope. It
does not imply that we will always have it rosy but we know that whatever
He allows is for our ultimate good.
Joseph: From Pit to Palace
Joseph, in spite of being righteous, generous, maintaining his integrity,
accountability and purity was thrown into prison. His dream got him
into trouble with his brothers yet he did not shy away from interpreting
dreams in the prison to help others. That was singing a new song in his
circumstances instead of moaning. God vindicated him in the end.
What more? He saw the purposes of God when he met his brothers and
they felt ashamed and remorseful of what they had done. Joseph did
not gloat over his advantage over them but comforted them: ‘It was not
you that sent me here but God sent me ahead to preserve many alive.’
(Gen45:5-8,—50:20)
Today, find God’s purpose in your circumstance and be encouraged to sing
new song. Sing a new song at every turn of your life like Pastor Willis. See
your changed situation as another opportunity of ‘being in the best position
to look up to God’, to give witness to the goodness of God. Someone said,
‘when your back is on the ground, praise God. You can only look up.’
Sing a new song to the King, know that He is in control at all times. Know
that He works everything together for the good of those who love Him and
who are called according to His purposes. Let us remind ourselves that if
God be for us no one can be against us. ‘Our light afflict worketh for an
exceeding weight of eternal glory.’ The outward man may perish but the
inward man is being renewed day by day. ‘Thanks be to God who always
causes us to triumph in Him.’ ‘Weeping may endure for the night but joy
is coming in the morning.’
Jesus is currently at the Father’s right hand interceding for us as our Attorney
and Advocate. He never loses a case and He will never lose our case. ‘It is
done, yes it is done. Through the precious blood of Jesus salvation is won.’
We have a New Covenant established on better promises and that is why
we can sing a new song at every turn in our lives. Our lives are hidden in
Christ in God. We are engraved on the palm of his Hands. Shall a mother
forget her sucking babe or the babe in her womb? Even if she does, God
has promised not to forget us.
Sing a New Song regardless of the weather. The God of the summer is also the God of the winter and He is good all the time.
We can sing a new song regardless of the weather, whether or not it is
cloudy, because we know Our God is in control; we know Who has gone
before us; we know who has given His word and will not go back on it. We
know that faithful is He who has called us who will also fulfil His promises.
We know that He is working EVERYTHING together for the good of
those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. The
good work He has begun in our lives, He will bring to fruition. Therefore
we can look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who, for the
joy set before Him, endured the cross. We too can endure our cross after
seeing the joy ahead of us.
You and I can look forward to finishing well our race of grace, singing a
new song on the mountain. Sing a New Song in the valley or alley, singing
a New Song even if it is cloudy. Friend, sing a new song in the desert or
green pasture. Sing a new Song in the summer or winter of life. Why? The
God of the mountain is also the God of the valley. He made the peak and
the trough.
He Made the Peak and the Trough
He made the peak
And made the trough
That you may seek
Him who is enough.
So there will be winter
When it is biting cold
And there will be summer
When it is warm and you’re bold
We need the mountain
And we need the valley
To see His fountain
And enter Eternity
And so, there’s a time to weep
A time for glee
A time to sleep
And time to greet the dawn
A time to fall
A time to rise
A time to be emptied
and a time to be full
a time to be beaten
and a time to be elevated
a time to be abased
and a time to abound.
God knows best
When to bring what
But it’s all for the best.
Sing a new song because our God is faithful, powerful, awesome, exceedingly
abundantly able to turn any table, regardless of how impossible it may seem.
He has the final word concerning our lives. Therefore neither death nor life
nor angel nor principalities nor things present nor things to come nor height
nor depth nor any other created thing can separate us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. As far as the East is from the West, so far
has He removed our transgression from us. And as high as the heavens are above
the earth, so great is His love towards us. (Ps103:11-12, Rom8:37-39)
Sing a new because He loves you with an everlasting love. Sing a new song
because of His great love; it is mammoth. Sing a new song because His angels
are on assignment for you. Sing a new song because there is nothing too hard
for Your God. The earth, in all its fullness, belongs to Him. Silver and gold
belong to Him. The cattle on thousand hills belong to Him. Alleluia!
I don’t know about what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow.
He is the Sovereign Lord, who reigns and rules from sea to sea. Therefore
His praise my heart will sing. ‘A heart in tune with God sings melodies all
its day.’
My God stands by His Word. Heaven and earth will pass away but
His word will not pass away. The word that has proceeded out of His
mouth will not return to Him empty but will accomplish that which He
pleases prosper in the thing whereunto it is sent. By two unchangeable
things—His word and his oath, it is impossible for God to lie. He
said, ‘I will not alter my covenant. (Matt.24:35, Isa55:11, Ps89:34,
He6:18)
Sing unto the Lord a new song . . . for He has done marvelous things. His
right hand and His holy Arm has gotten Him the victory. The Lord has
made know His salvation to His people. All the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.
Surely, God Will Find YOU!
Surely, God will find YOU!
In the back of the desert.
He is faithful and true;
His own He will not desert.
Just like He found Moses,
Who had lost his vision,
Content to join the Jones;
God will bring resurrection.
When you’re weak, you’ll be strong,
Going in the strength of the Most High.
God will revive, give you a tonic and song.
And you will tread on places that are high.
The dumb shall be able to speak.
The lame shall leap like a deer.
The blood of the Lamb will speak
For the redeemed, His, dear.
Remember His mercies sing unto the Lord a new song. When the brought
back the captives of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths
were filled with laughter and our tongues with joy. For it was said among
the nations: ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ This will be your
testimony.(Ps126)
Review the Past and be strengthened
Sing a new song, review the past like David did when he face Goliath; tell of His goodness, His wonders, His greatness, His faithfulness and His loving kindness.
God did wonders for my life in Ireland: sustaining me for 8 years when I was not allowed to work (rained manna); birthing songs upon songs of deliverance in the valley of affliction; opening doors of ministry to encourage the saints despite what I was going through. With these songs I was able to encourage myself like David. He opened the rock and brought forth water.
Jesus Christ, the same, yesterday today and forever. He said I am the
Lord, I change not. He is a good God and He is good all the time—Jehovah
Shammah—the ever-present Lord; He is Jehovah Nissi—your victorious
banner; He is Elshaddai, the double breasted One, the God who is more
than enough, the Almighty. He is Jehovah Jireh—Supplier of all your needs
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He is Your peace—Jehovah
shalom. So regardless of the storms around you today, you can hold your
peace because He fights for you. You can hear Him say, ‘Peace, be still and
know that I am God. Though the mountain be carried into the midst of
the sea, stand to see your salvation. Though the sea roar and convulse, keep
calm. I am at the helm of your affairs.’
He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. Count your blessings, name them one by one and it would surprise you what the Lord has done fo; encourage you to keep pressing on for the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.
Know that the One in whom you believe is all-powerful, all-wise and nothing can thwart his plans and
purposes. His counsel shall stands. He decrees and it stands because He is able to do exceeding abundantly able to turn any table. He was before Abraham, He is and is to come—the Ancient of Days.
He told Abraham, ‘Get out of your country, your family . . . your comfort
zone . . . to a place that I will show you.’ And when he did, God showed
him the place. Yes, he leftHaranand he came intoCanaan. Abraham left
Haran and came into Canaan.
Abraham left Haran and came into Canaan. That shall be your portion.
Yes, regardless of the famine Abraham leftHarancame intoCanaan. Why?
Because God had given Him His word and He held unto that word until it came to pass
Be a Holy fool for God
Be a holy fool for God,
By responding to His call,
Come on, take Him at His Word,
Obey and you will not fall.
Leave! Get out of your country.
Detach yourself to attach,
Gracefully, not wearily;
From self-will, now be detached.
From Haran, go to Canaan
Land flowing with milk and honey
Commit yourself to God’s plan
Go and flow with Him, easy.
Now, for His will be hungry;
Let nothing else take it’s place.
Yield! His Spirit will carry
You from the maze to the place.
Delay can be dangerous
So get to work, fast today!
Be focused and be zealous;
Know that God will make a way.
You’ll be blessed to be a blessing.
A great nation you’ll become.
From Abram learn a lesson:
Obey. Let God’s kingdom come!
And so the challenge is for you and I to obey Him despite circumstances to the contrary.
It is written, ‘Your word is a light to my path and a lamp to my
feet.’ This means God will not show you the whole journey at once. With a
lamp you can only see the next step and at the end of that step you are able to
see the next step and so on. So it is with our race of grace and walk with God.
It is one day at a time and so long as we are holding on to Him and trusting
Him, He will take us to the other side—His desired haven.
Sing, my friend. Sing in the sun and sing in the rain like a robin. You can
sing the gospel. Sing a new song to the Most High. Sing in the day and
sing in the night.
Sing:
Heaven hear my voice as I sing
O earth, listen as I praise my King
I waited and waited for so long,
Now my God has given me a song.
They said to me, ‘for you, there is no hope
Commit suicide, I have a rope’
But today, I see a great hope
Coming down from the great God of Hope.
Sing a new song and make it long and strong. Sing this song before the day of victory arrives.
God gave me this song before He made a way for me to go back to England
in fulfilment of His word to me ‘I will bring you back . . . . ’
This was after almost 8 years of being exiled inIrelandand moving from house to house, not allowed to work. But God provided and protected and gave songs in my night, one of which is “Sing a New Song”
Sing a new song because you know, that you know, that you know, that as long as the
Lord lives, as long as night follows day, the word of the Lord shall not fall
to the ground.
Jesus had told the disciples ‘let us go to the other side and guess what? As
they got into the boat, a storm arose. That was to test their faith and
then at midnight when it was darkest, Jesus showed up. Alleluia! In your
darkest moment Jesus will show up. ‘The nearer the dawn, the darker the
night.’ Stand still to see the salvation of the Lord!
On another occasion, He was in the boat with them, sleeping and the
storm arose and they cried, ‘Master don’t you care that we perish? not
even thinking that since He was in the boat with them, if they perished
He would too. But we know that Jesus could not perish. He came to
do the will of God the Father and no wind could thwart the plans and
purposes of God. And so Jesus rose up and rebuked the wind and there
was a great calm.
The word of God says,’ Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever,’
when the storm comes and you know that He is in the boat, you don’t need
to worry, sleep with Him, because you know that you will arrive at your
destination. If Jesus says, ‘Let us go to the other side,’ you will reach the
others side regardless of the ploys of the enemy-satanic machinations. You
will arrive on the other side because Jesus is faithful. Faithful is He who has
called you, Who will also do it.
The Holy Spirit is there to guide you, comfort and strengthen you. He
is the Standby come to stand by you. He is there to comfort you in your
distress. Call on Him. Ask Him to give you divine perspective in your
trials so that you can rejoice before you see. The fig tree may not now
blossom. There may be no fruit on the vine; there may be no cattle in the
stall nevertheless you can rejoice in the God of your salvation. He sees and
He cares and He knows and He is working behind the scenes. Call on the
Spirit of Grace to give you a new dose of His Grace that is sufficient for
you. He will quicken His word (the promises, His Rhema word to you, His
mercies) what He had done in times past. It is said ‘worry is the interest you
pay on trouble before you get it.’ Why pay interest? Man’s days are full of
trouble. There will always be adversities. It is how you face the adversities
that determine the outcome.
Sing a new song at every turn and you can face today’s difficulties and
tomorrows uncertainties with confidence in a faithful God Who begins
and finishes what He begins. Sing a new song to the King and make
it long, as long as the King of king is on the throne. You can face any
Goliath that confronts you and through Christ can fell him and turn on
the light in your life, in your family, in your nation to the glory of God.
Alleluia!
I will conclude with this poem
Sing a New Song
Sing a New Song
Unto the Lord
And make it long
Full of His Word.
Sing in all seasons
Winter or summer
There’s good reason
He’s Alpha and Omega.
Sing in the valley
Sing on the mountain
Sing in penury
Sing before you obtain.
Sing a new song
no matter how bad
Sing even if you’re wronged
Sing even if you’re sad.
Sing in the throng
Sing when you’re alone
Sing with a gong
Sing with a cone.
Sing when you’re strong
Sing when you’re weak
For it won’t be long
For your great break.
Sing in the light
Sing in the dark
Sing with His might
Sing making your mark.
–
Sing in abundance
Sing when you lack
Sing with a dance
Sing taking a flack.
Sing in the rain
Like the robin
Sing when in pain
Sing in prison.
Sing when you fall
Sing when you rise
Sing strong like Paul
Apple of God’s eyes.
Sing in the battle
Sing in the field
Sing with a mantle
Sing of your Shield.
Sing in your flight
From Herod’s pursuit
Know God will right
Every wrongful suit.
Sing in your fight
Trusting the Lord.
Sing in your night
Your light, His Word
Sing
a new
song to Him.
who rides the winds
and can heal the sick
He walks on the waters
and even raises the dead
and brings water out of the rock
parts the sea, rains manna from heaven
and makes the impossible possible
He makes the impossible possible.
Rains manna from heaven, parts the sea;
Brings water out of the rock,
And even raises the dead.
He walks on water,
Can heal the sick;
He rides the winds.
Sing to Him
A new
Song.
Ps 96;1,-98:1,—144:9, 149:1, Isa42:10, Ps33:
This is an excerpt from my book: Sing a New Song
You can also sing the Song : Sing a New Song, below
Sing a New Song (1)
Sing a New song,- a song with a cutting edge, joy unspeakable and full of glory to the Lord of Glory.
©Fenny West 2010