10/05/2022 - THE ATTITUDE OF A SERVANT OF GOD

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So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. Judges 4.9

No servant of God has the right to choose where he will serve the Lord, but some prefer to announce that they will do it their way. Now, how can someone act in such a way, if Jesus said not to accept human testimony?  Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved (John 5:34). When he said that he would not face Sisera – if Deborah did not go with him, the commander of Israel’s army passed control to her and she promptly accepted it.

It was not just weakness on Barak’s part. Knowing how Deborah was anointed and used by the Lord, he knew it would be good to have her leading. That way, there would be no error. Whoever is ordained to do something in the Lord’s work needs to know that they are already prepared; otherwise, they would not have been chosen. But if they need extra help, they should talk to their leader, who is someone experienced in God’s work. After all, the work will have to be done.

In the days of Jesus here in the world, a centurion came to Him saying that his servant was paralyzed and violently tormented. The Master was willing to go and heal him, but the official declared: “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me[...]. At these words, Jesus was surprised and said that not even in Israel He had found such great faith (Matthew 8:5-13). One can understand that Barak’s request saddened the Lord, for he had been trained for the battle!

The battle we are to fight is the same battle that Jesus fought. He did not say that He would fight against the Roman government that oppressed Israel, but against the empire of darkness (1 John 3:8b). Whoever fights for the kingdom of this world does not serve the Lord. Now, He said that He gave us an example: For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you (John 13.15). The weapons of our warfare are mighty to destroy spiritual strongholds of wickedness (2 Corinthians 10:4). Watch and pray!

Deborah said that she would follow Barak, but the honor of victory would not be his. Why go to battle if we will not have the glory of victory? The homeland needs its children prepared to defend it, and as citizens, we should do our best to preserve our nation from foreign invasions, warlike or commercial. As citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, we have the privilege of fighting for a more righteous cause, which blesses us all! Move forward, Christians!

The judge proved to be battle-worthy, for she soon arose to deliver the Israelites from the evil Jabin, king of Canaan. When we hear the call to spiritual warfare, let us pray for the people who do not yet know Jesus. They are born in sin, live in error and die without salvation. We have the power to snatch them out of the fire (Jude 23).

The plan to destroy the mighty army headed by Sisera came from Heaven, so God’s people would win. Salvation was worked out by the Creator, and He has clothed us with the authority to pluck the lost from the eternal fire. Shall we?

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares