Whom Shall I Send?

Whom Shall I Send?

From the earliest ages of humanity until present times, the conflict between good and evil has been continuously expressed in bitter confrontations between God’s people and various giants. While we observe that man himself has never been able to conquer in this battle, we do not fail to notice that Jehovah has been active on behalf of his people.

However, the giants that confront God’s people today seem to be having the upper hand and even dictating the terms of the battle so that we are tempted to question the reality of divine activity. Yet we know that the Lord never slumbers. Both history and the Scriptures testify to His activity in the affairs of men. In this meditation, we shall take up the study of the battle between David and Goliath as a pertinent case to our generation.

The scene of the war as depicted by the sacred penman is a most fearful sight. Israel, the army of the living God, is portrayed as challenged and openly defied by the Philistine camp. We encounter fear within the Israeli camp, stripping the soldiers of hope and banishing courage from their midst. Great trepidation of the enemy characterized the captains of Jehovah’s army even before an arrow was released from the Philistine camp.

The converse was true in the Philistine camp. Self-confidence abounded there. Philistine soldiers proudly flashed their more advanced steel weapons behind their well experienced warlord. Apparently they had nothing to fear; their uniforms were both impressive with impregnable coats of mail, thus making the Philistines appear invincible.

We trace the origin of the Philistines to the Casluhim and the Caphtorim [Gen.10: 14], which means, "as forgiven ones," and "as if to interpret" respectively. The simile is to be noted. As forgiven, as if to interpret means not forgiven, not interpreted. Put together, we reasonably conclude that the Philistines represent a people who, though retaining a religious impression, have neither obtained true forgiveness nor do they possess the truth.

Thus we see a people cunning and deceptive coming in by stealth among the people of God, while we see the people of God obsessed with outward things. In their unfortunate desire to be like other nations, they chose, based on his physical appearance, a king "Who will go out and fight our battles."

The sons of Israel had so neglected the God of heaven and had become careless of the presence of the enemy, that the insidious workings of Philistine presence went undetected until the very heart of Israel’s spiritual existence and communion was taken captive. The word of God reports the condition in lamentable terms, After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is—1 Sam. 10:5

But the hill of God under Philistine dominion did not disturb the Israelites. Their major concern was to be like other nations and to be consistent with the current thought system of that age. In pursuit of this abominable desire, they let the enemy profane the hill of God by reducing it to a military base for Philistine exploits. The children of Israel got their king and the Philistines obtained their goal of securing the sacred hill for their own purposes.

Under their new king, Israel was permitted some victories over the Ammonites and Amalekites, but nothing was done to eject the intruders on the hill of God. Eventually things became so deplorable that the Philistines no longer had to pretend. Evidently Israel had shifted their trust from the true God to Saul and their weaknesses had become unavoidably manifest.

Thus the Philistines no longer needed to maintain their disguise as though they possessed truth or were forgiven. Instead, they openly avowed their dislike for the God of Israel, announced their immense hatred for the people of God and unmistakably declared their intention to enslave them.

The result was war. There on the battle field, Israel’s helplessness was exposed before the battle even began. Word had reached King Saul that General Goliath was leading the Philistine ground forces. King Saul, who was chosen to fight Israel’s battles, decided to put his soldiers forward while he remained behind them in panic. Consequently, Saul manifested a thought foreign to the program of heaven. In principle, he declared that, "the sheep were to lay down their lives for the shepherd!"

The tallest man in Israel trembled before the tallest man among the Philistines. He who was chosen to fight the battles of Israel would not lay down his life for the sheep. Instead, he camped in his office listening to news and promising honors to whoever comes out alive after an encounter with the dreadful giant. Jehovah is a Man of war, Israel ’s king was a crafty politician!

But Goliath’s towering presence provoked a retreat in Israel’s camp. Since they would not fear God, they are now necessarily fearful of the Philistine that presently confounded them. They trembled not at the word of God by His prophet, and now they must cower before the enemy. The professed people of God watched helplessly while the name of the Lord was profaned and His people abused.

Goliath himself could see that God was not in the Hebrew camp. He noted that they were merely the servants of Saul—1 Sam.17:8. Hence he challenged them to choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me; Give me a man that we may fight together --1 Sam.17:7-10.

We pause here to consider the spiritual import of this traumatic saga. Are we not also confronted with similar giants today? Is it not obvious that our neglect of the God of heaven has given way to strange men who have crept in among us by stealth bringing damnable heresies [2 Pet.2:1] ? They who ought to declare the word of God without fear or favortism prefer to diplomatically co-host religious conventions to avoid contending for the faith. High-school graduates waiting to gain admission to the universities are now employed for money to go on evangelism while the big pastors recline in their offices sipping tea and surfing the internet leisurely. Now weird doctrines that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God are generally applauded [2 Tim.4:3,4]. They who have come in among us and have noted our waning devotion to God and continual trust in man, now occupy our pulpits, teach what they will and threaten any who would challenge their authority.

Rather than thirsting for the Kingship of God, we laud our leaders and even elevate their pronouncements to the standards of God’s word. When true sons of Zion occupied the pulpits in times past, arrows of conviction smote the hearts of men. People clung to the pillars of their church buildings weeping in penitence for God’s mercy. Hypocrites and false brethren couldn’t dwell with the flaming presence in Zion. Evil saw dread and was afraid to show its face or declare its intentions. So strongly manifest was God’s presence that the people dared not join them—Acts 5:13. Then it was the Lord’s prerogative to add to his church, and He did.

But we have carelessly afforded the enemy a career in our midst. The hill of sober meditation has been assaulted and penetrated by wanton thoughts. Profane comments such as, "ride on Pastor," foolish laughter, and indiscriminate screams with wild whistling among the congregations during a message is a confirmation of the presence of hell in our midst. Dog-like screams of ecstasy amidst shouting and whistling are characteristic of the pit of abomination. But how is it that we have so failed that such evils now identify themselves openly in our midst. These symptoms should tell us that we are not really listening to a message from the King of heaven. The result effected is only possible when a Philistine is the preacher.

And so sanity forsakes us. The hill of solemnity is reduced to the fortress of vanity. Jeremiah noting these things in his days broke down with a dirge, The adversary has spread his hand over all her pleasant things; for she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary, those whom you commanded not to enter your assembly—Lam.1:10. Asaph’s elegy in the Psalms echoes the same truth when he sang, The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. Your enemies roar in the midst of the meeting place; they set up their banners for signs—Ps.74:3-4.

We, the people of God, have been spoiled. Foreigners with no heart for God or the things of eternity have invaded Christendom and substituted the spiritual for the mundane. Since the uncircumcised lips of the Philistine roar self-confidently in the sanctuary, shame and stupidity have replaced the solemnity and sanctity that was once ours. The banner of the Lord God is torn from above our heads [ S.of S.2:4] and the enemy has captured us beneath their own banners.

What is the banner of the Lord over us? Is it not love? Yea, is God Himself not love? The truth is plain. If God is love then unregenerate man who is unlike God cannot be love. The conclusion is logical. Man is full of lust. And lust has permeated his outlook on life, religion inclusive.

Lamentably we are helpless against this onslaught of evil. As Goliath defied the armies of the living God with insults and wicked charges, so today, we sit helpless under the anointing that kills. We hear error and witness the name of the Lord taken in vain but we do nothing because we are helpless. Our carelessness has given place to the enthronement of folly. We ourselves have depended upon man, and now man would take us captive.

As Israel faced Goliath and his army they were dreadfully afraid and so fled [1Sam.17:24]. How terrible is the condition of a people who have lost the vision of God! They saw the man but did not see God; they saw disaster but did not see deliverance. Goliath’s badges of honor from previous wars made them forget that Jehovah is a Man of war.

Until today we only see man. What is the fate of a people who have lost the true sense of spiritual reality? Why is it that we tremble before the eloquence and presence of those whose so-called Christianity is foreign to the gospel of Christ? These giants take us captive and exploit us with great swelling words of vanity --2 Pet.2:18, Ah, we are doomed! We no longer see God. Profanity parading as theology is constantly being emptied into our minds. We are become a refuse dump of the rubbish of human doctrine. What is liberal theology and what is Christian Science anyway? Of what use are the modern versions of theology advertised with big names and ballooned promises? Yet we do not see God. We have become spiritually destitute. We think the God that strongly manifested His presence in times past is now distant and even archaic for modern Christianity.

But praise be to God. There remains a remnant. The fact that God can never be imprisoned in the methods of man simply demonstrates that the foolish rebellion of man can never sink the enterprise of God. Though vast may be the ruin and heartbreaking may be the decay, the gates of hell will surely be assaulted by the children of God; and as they do, those gates will yield before them.

To redeem the distressing condition of Israel, God raised David, a man who had not been influenced by the corruptions of Israel and had been trained by Jehovah Himself. This is the lad we see browsing his way into the Israeli camp. Humbly approaching the battleground with the intent of refreshing the hearts of his brothers who were supposed to be pursuing the enemy, he encountered the whole host disgracing the name of God by shrinking away from conflict and fleeing away from evil utterances.

Asaph, that wonderful man of God, sang, The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle—Ps.78:9. They had every external appearance of an army. The sword was in their hands but it was useless; they wore their uniforms but it vainly attempted to cover traitorous hearts. And so they turned away. Just in the same manner we continue today with every form of godliness, quoting the Bible and employing Christian language that nevertheless is bereft of power when exposed before the lusts that confront us.

But why did they turn back in the day of battle? Asaph supplies the answer in the next verse, They did not keep the covenant of God; They refused to walk in His law, and forgot His works, and His wonders that He had shown them—Ps.78:10-11. The language is as plain as it is relevant to us today. Are we leading victorious Christian lives? More than any other age that has ever existed, we have more light, more teachers, study materials, including commentaries written through sweat and toil of both ancient and contemporary saints, but the intensity of gospel light has served only to expose our cowardly hearts. The name of the Lord is blasphemed continually and we concern ourselves with submitting sheepishly to the enemy.

But why is this? Is it not because we have not kept the covenant of the Lord our God? We despise His law and have forgotten all that He has done for us even by giving us the Bible through the instrumentality of men who laid down their lives and through sweat and toil brought the message of Christ to us. Instead, we have stories for messages, rock and roll for worship, feasting for fasting and oratory for Divine oracle Indeed, we are captives of Saul.

David, God’s own man, encountering the fleeing soldiers, was asked, Have you seen this man who has come up?—1Sam.17:25. How often we encounter the same questions! Should a soul begin to be stirred by God’s Spirit, they who have been on the field begin to shout him down. It is a common expression to hear it asked here in Africa, "Who do you think you are? Do you know how long he has served as a pastor? Can you even do what he is doing? Will you challenge the mouthpiece of God? He has a PhD, what do you have!"

But as the Spirit stirs the hearts of men, they who would respond cannot be silenced. David disagreed with the profane inquiry put to him as was clearly spelt out by his investigation, Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defied the armies of the living God—1 Sam.17:26. To David, men were either circumcised or uncircumcised, and unmistakably he ranked the Philistine among the latter in spite of his prowess and military might. More than that, he acknowledged the existence of God as an active God. To David, God was real, though Israel no longer discerned Him and though He was elusive to Philistine vision. David nevertheless exercised his faith in God as supreme and active among men and this God was the One whom the Philistine was defying.

Great spiritual awakenings always commence with questions. Once people get a vision of the true meaning of Christianity, you will notice them asking questions. "What doctrine is this? What justification is there for such utterances? What Scriptures confirm our practices in this mission, in this church and in this ministry?"

Indeed, God is undoing the false systems of men by the questioning lips of those who have awakened to reality. All over Nigeria, throughout Africa, we see people who are seriously beginning to demand the Scriptural support for certain practices and traditions in the church.

But David’s questions provoked fierce responses, as will the questions of all godly people in the midst of mere religious profession. Listen to David's brother, Eliab, declare in great wrath, I know your pride and the insolence of your heart—1Sam.17:28. This is a sad indicator of the depths to which false religious professors have sunken. Hear him say, "I know." What does he know but defeat and fear in the presence of the enemy? Sad that he would even impart his own fear into the heart of God’s chosen deliverer.

Being God’s mouthpiece costs no small price. Earth is never known to approve of and applaud heaven’s champions. Men of whom the world is not worthy are usually despised and generally held in derision. Ask a simple question over any of our church practices which do not enjoy Biblical support and you will be promptly dubbed proud.

But such did not deter David. No true servant of God who has received his message faints before the opinions of men. Thus we read of David’s attitude toward Eliab, He turned from him—1Sam.17:30.

Beloved, I can only encourage that you turn from any so-called brother who would have you remain in religious servitude to man. You must not heed the words of those whose fear of man has ensnared their soul. Rather, turn from them and seek not to withdraw from the purpose of God for your life.

Though David was turned off, the words he uttered vibrated through the camp. The utterances of this lad sent tremors of alarm through the Israeli host. He was no soldier, he had no experience in wielding of Saul’s weapons, but he spoke words that were both activated and animated by God’s Spirit.

Listen, you do not necessarily need to have been to the seminary, it doesn’t matter if you do not belong to a group in your church. The plainest words of a soul, dedicated to God’s purpose, however poor, however illiterate, no matter how unknown or unskilled, will certainly cause trembling and hope to return to those who are called by the name of the Lord and have chosen to live for the Lord.

David stood before Saul. But Saul’s speech to David was full of fear and weakness and his conclusions were generally drawn from his own carnal reasoning. Hear Saul speak, You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth and he a man of war from his youth 1 Sam.17:33

By his counsel, it is evident Saul doubted David’s ability. The word of God has this to say to all Davids of today, Let no man despise your youth --I Tim.4:12. Friend, has God chosen you? Then speak as God bids you. He whose word preserves breath in your nostrils will keep you. He who has sent you will not let His words fall to the ground. Age, education, gender and all human decorations make no difference before the Lord. Saul it is who thinks you have not the necessary abilities to confront the abomination in the camp. God’s strength flourishes most among those who tremble at His word, not before the observations of Saul or empty Philistine threats.

David knew more than to heed the advice of a useless king. He was the messenger of a living God. While Saul was keeping record of Goliath’s triumph, David recalled to mind and expressed the consistency of God’s faithfulness in times of need. He gives his testimony of whom He knew God to be and what He was capable of doing. His was not just the activity of mere enthusiasm. He had been trained in secret and was about to be manifest openly.

Friend, have you searched the Scriptures? Representing God in public is no magic. You must have been a student of His word in private, diligently giving heed to and practicing the teachings therein. John, the great forerunner of the Lord, was in the wilderness until the day of his manifestation. You must take time to study and show yourself approved, a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Neglect not to study hard and prayerfully water down the truths communicated to you, and your profiting will be evident to all.

Weary and not wanting to argue any further, Saul handed David a uniform that he himself was not willing to wear and had already proven useless to his entire army. David tried them and was compelled by their incompatibility with the methods of God dealing with him to refuse them.

Just as the battles of the Lord cannot be executed through the coat, mail and sword of Saul, so also the words of truth cannot be enshrined and made to conform to the denominations of men. It is men who must bow down to the will of God. All emphases on a particular method as God’s only way of dealing with mankind have no Scriptural basis. What for instance do we mean by, "order of service as displayed in our churches?" The Christian services of our day that we observe are so fixed that the pattern of fellowship is predictable before the day of meeting. Must the Spirit of God follow the lead of men and submit to our regulations on worship? Can’t the Lord Himself direct His church and lead His own followers in intimate communion with Himelf?

Thus we see David rejecting the armor of Saul and taking up the staff of a shepherd. All through the narratives of the Old Testament, we see God working through shepherds, men who have had experience in skillfully guiding, leading, pasturing and protecting the sheep. This only points to the larger picture of who God is in Himself. Concerning Himself our Lord declared, "I am the great Shepherd." That is, He leads, He guides, directs and chooses the pastures from which His flock feeds. He gave His life to ensure the welfare of the sheep. Until today the Lord has not failed to Shepherd His flock both directly and through those undershepherds available to Him.

The staff of the shepherd represents authority; authority such as cannot be gained from any college or human ordination. Jesus Himself declared, As the Father has sent me so send I you --Jn.20:21. In that statement is revealed the fountainhead of the believer’s authority. It may lack physical grandeur and the lesser things that sway men in admiration. But it remains the authority which no tongue can contradict; it is the authority to bear His name, to fight His battles, to restore hope to His people and to subdue every high thing before Him who alone is God.

This then was the mandate of David as he marched forth to battle. Thus we see him striding confidently in the strength of Jehovah against the Philistine and his army. And presently we come to Goliath and we find him startled as he beheld the innocent looking inexperienced David approach.

Goliath expected a warrior; he encountered a shepherd. He thought to see Saul’s uniform on the lad, rather he noticed a simple garment. A young man with no visible armor and obviously without experience was closing in upon Goliath! The great Philistine general was insulted. His madness heightened when he noticed the boy selecting stones from a catapult to undo a general wearing a spear-proof uniform!

Goliath’s error lied much more in what he did not see, rather than in what he did see. In the physical, he saw only a boy whom Saul was experimenting with. In all probability this was the thinking of the Israelites too. Neither camp saw the hand of God; both were blind as to the clothing of salvation, righteousness and deliverance with which David was wrapped. The same error pertains today. Discernment is greatly lacking. Neither the religious Philistines of our day nor God’s professed people perceive the presence of God in the church. Our general belief is that Philistines will always prevail. If we were in a denomination with the characteristics of the Laodicean church today, we would undoubtedly be tempted to despair at the carnality of that congregation and to imagine that the Lord is not in her midst. But the Bible reveals otherwise. And in the midst of the seven lampstands, one like unto the Son of man, and out of His mouth went a sharp two edged sword—Rev.1:13,16. Christ is seen in the midst of the churches active, finding verdicts and passing judgments on all that transpires within the fold. He does the same today, and He seeks a man, He seeks a woman who will acknowledge His presence and discern His activity.

But David cared not for Goliath’s towering presence, neither did he tremble before the vulgar speech of the foe. Rather he strode on in the peace and confidence that heaven had both approved of him and had tried and condemned Goliath to be removed from this earth Indeed, They that know their God shall be strong and do exploits --Dan.11:32, human opinion irrespective. As the lad took the last strides towards the enemy, he must have heard the Lord affirm to his heart, Fear not, I am with thee.

But while David was listening to the Lord, there was, if we permit our imagination here, a wail already arising in the Israeli camp while laughter and foolish jeering was taken over the Philistine camp. Disaster seemed inevitable and Hebrew blood was about to be split. Many who knew of Goliath’s previous triumphs watched helplessly as David "irrationally" approached the giant.

Presently, both camps stood silent before the loud cursing of the Philistine warlord against David [1Sam.17:43-44]. We need not search far to find the application of this today. Once I attended a church and the preacher profaned the name of the LORD before a silly congregation which jeered him on. He used the word of God to justify his covetousness while encouraging the same in others. I stood up when we were given the opportunity to ask questions and I asked, "Sir, How does your message correspond to Lk.12:15?" His reaction was instantaneous. He raved and raged furiously, shouting from the pulpit and declaring that he holds a PhD while irately asking if I even had a degree [I have none]. He indiscriminately abused me with vulgar words unworthy of repetition by any saintly soul. The unwashed crowd joined him as he disgraced the calling of a pastor openly in his rage. Finally, he asked the church to stand up and pray for my backslidden soul and the multitude rose up lifting their hands to the Holy One they knew not. Though I was attacked on all sides by the congregation, who made funny faces at me and declared me insolent for daring to quote the word of God against the proclamation of a divinely anointed man of God, I heard a few people muttering, "But the young man was correct!"

Do you have a similar experience? Do not worry and do not fret. At such times the exhortation of Scriptures is for you, be not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God—Phil.1:28. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified—1 Pt.4:14. The presence of God in your life will generally elicit contempt from Philistines and your desire to lead God’s people out of religious captivity will certainly attract reproach. But this should only bring to your notice that the cause for disagreement between you and the Philistine is because you are under the influence of the Spirit of God. And if nothing else, you ought to be encouraged by such a realization.

The foe continued to hurl curse after curse upon David the servant of the Lord, but his curses were of no effect [Prov 26:2]. Who is it that condemns? It is God who justifies. If the Lord be for us who shall be against us? No counsel of the enemy will prevail over any who seek to avail themselves to the use of Christ. Because those who seek to hinder the move of the Spirit in the life of God’s servant will find themselves to be fighting the Lord Himself. There is no counsel against the Lord. And though multitudes come together and consult in hatred against the work of God in your life, the Word of God to them is Speak the word but it shall not stand, for God is with us --Isa.8:10.

As regards the certainty of God’s word prospering in the hands of those devoted to proclaiming it, we have the assurance of the Lord that there’s nothing hidden which shall not be revealed. This means that as disciples of Christ are seeking to spread the words of life, they will encounter opposition whose intent would be to hinder the spread of the gospel; but such moves will undoubtedly terminate in futility since the word of God can never be imprisoned or restricted.

Christ it is who is building His church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. It is the church who will take the offensive in assaulting the gates of hell. It is impossible that hell go to war with the church and carry its gates with it. No kingdom does so. Rather the church will assault the gates of hell with the sword of the Spirit and in so doing defeat the gates and counsels of hell which will by no means prevail against it.

David confessed his unworthiness and inexperience to battle. He made it unmistakably plain that he was neither impelled by zeal nor a carnal desire for heroism. David maintained that his only weapon, his only hope, his only defense was the name of the Lord [Ps.124:8]. Thus he admitted the futility of all other means and weapons in accomplishing the intent of the Most High.

Likewise we must not engage in spiritual service except in the name and strength of the Lord. Profane attempts at bringing about true spiritual awakening among God’s people by so-called revivalists are on the rise among us. It is now commonplace to find the entertainments and amusements of the world in the church. TV shows and football competitions are organized within the church to get the attention of people. And what is it that constitutes our ordinations? Is it anything more than a ceremonial process of laying empty hands on empty heads? But it is obvious to all who are familiar with the ways of the Lord that churches with all such carnal approaches are achieving nothing; Jesus is not in such camps and the Philistines are certainly gaining the upper hand.

No true spiritual awakening begins by force or sending threats to people from the pulpit. The world-class weapons of Goliath were useless before the slingshot of a Spirit-guided shepherd boy. All the curses and roars of the Philistine were discovered to be nothing but noise as the unseen hands of God guided the stone from the sling into the forehead of God’s enemy.

Goliath fell. Silence prevailed in both camps. Doubt as to the reality of what had just happened was suggested by the silent hesitation on both sides. But David was not doubtful of God. He knew God to be faithful and to always complete whatever He begins. God would not set our feet into the way only to abandon us in the middle of the battle. Jesus declared, I am with you always even to the end of the age—Matt.28:20

We must not be doubtful. Even though weak, insignificant and unknown, the impact of our words is felt in the Philistine camp when we proclaim the truth of God’s word. Are you truly devoted to the Lord and do you truly desire to see Christ exalted among men? Then blessed are you for all the philosophies and wisdom of this world will not be able to refute the wisdom with which you speak. The word of God faithfully spoken will smash to nonsense all the seeming strength of human wisdom.

While the Israelites were content to be spectators in the move of God against the enemy, David proceeded to behead the Philistine general and thus clear their doubts. Even in a move of the Spirit there may be no encouragement from the camp of God’s professed people, but the servant of God must be sure of his God apart from human plaudits. David decapitated Goliath with Goliath’s sword. That which in the hand of the Philistine was used to torment the children of God now in the hand of David was used to slay the Philistine!

When convicting messages begin to sound forth from our pulpits, we will observe morality flowing out of spirituality. Just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness—Rom.6:19. Deliverance from Philistine bondage must be followed by whole hearted submission to God if we would gain eternal life. To neglect this, is to relapse into Philistine dominion after a while. The word of God encourages us, But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life—Rom.6:22

When the children of Israel saw for certain that Goliath was dead, the shout of freedom was heard while the wail of terror characterized the host of the fleeing enemies. This has always been repeated in history. The majority will not follow until they see. We live in a world cursed with a passion for sight. Israel did not move until they saw with the eyes that Goliath was beheaded. David, while still seeing Goliath in all his glory, heard the word of God to move against him. Have you heard the word of God, or are you still waiting to see things happen?

We moved by faith and not by sight. Blessed are those who have not seen, but who have yet believed the God of heaven to be real. There shall be no shout of true revival among God’s people, neither there can be any true spiritual awakening in professing Christendom while Goliath yet remains on his feet. Heresies, hypocrisies and worldly wisdom must perish from within our camp if the shout of joy would be experienced in our midst again.

We must not fail to notice also that David did not go to war because he sought popularity. Popularity naturally followed after the victory was won to Jehovah’s glory. How is it then that countless unconsecrated fools advertise their ministries on televisions, videos, satellites, newspapers, and the Internet? The most distressing thing about this is the fact that they who champion such ministries are often unprepared and only end up making people spiritually worse than themselves.

My dear friend, does your heart bleed at the unholy religion that characterizes those who profess to know Christ? Does it not shame you that Christendom lamely trembles for the fear of men? Is the Lord Almighty stirring your heart go into the wilderness of meditation in order to prepare you for a wide sphere of influence? Does the Spirit of God burn in your heart and you are afraid that no one will support you or do you think you are much too insignificant to make any impact on behalf of Jehovah and against the mighty host of religious scoundrels?

The supreme question is this, what will you do? Will you just seat back in the uniform of Saul and watch or will you incline your heart to the wail of the Godhead, Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?—Isa.6:8

Isaiah surrendered his life to the use of God and so did David, each not considering his own interests but Jehovah’s purposes. Today the same question comes your way, my way, and before all who profess to know God. We cannot be neutral. The call has never been more relevant than now. May Christ give you the wisdom to respond rightly and to consciously lay down your life for the sake of the Lord and His people. Amen.