BE PREPARED – AS A HORSE FOR BATTLE

The Achievers’ Spirit of Triumph

Prov 21:31 ‘’ The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD’’

2 Sam 11:1-5 ‘’And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child’’.

Jeremiah 12:5 ‘’If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?’’

Shalom! I bring you kingdom greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. I pray that the grace, love, peace and mercy of our God be increased and multiplied to you, with all things under your feet as you take the first step in his first month of year 2009 – JANUARY!

I believe by now you may have received the 42^nd Generation Foundation theme for the year – 2009 AFD Edition – which was meant to structure the foundation for the new year – to serve as footing – upon which our monthly Achievers’ Faith Digest (AFD) will be leaning towards.

January Edition

When I consider closely all that has happened in 2008 – to families whom I have had the privilege of hearing their cries and pains and the different news still going on in the media: I also see and hear some believers act and speak as a people without hope and God in this world. I am bound to trust God that this January 2009 AFD edition will bring about an awakening to each one of us into a place of triumph and desired dreams.

There Is – Battle in Life

2 Tim 4:7 ‘’I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:’’

1 Tim 1:18 ‘’This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare’’

1 Tim 6:12 ‘’Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses’’.

John 16:33 ‘’These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world’’

Battles speak of a fight, conflict and the struggle that we go through in our lifetime. The scripture of Proverbs 21:31 intimates us of battle in life even as other scriptures also referred to it as war, warfare and a fight in life.

I remember a prayer scenario in which a young man came to meet his Pastor for prayers in order to get rid of any problems then and in future. The Pastor with all sincerity asked him to kneel, laid his hand on him and prayed this prayer – Lord, since this young man cannot take any more problems, kill him and take him home early – hearing this, the young man stopped the Pastor. He learnt from here, that under the sun, battles, conflicts, struggles, challenges and fights – are real to life either directly or indirectly.

As an achiever you need not take things for granted as some may. A lot of Christians jump into the New Year with great excitements, but unarmed and unprepared and end up being casualties of any problems that come their way instead of being victors as in Christ Jesus.

2 Cor. 10:3-6 ‘’For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled’’

Eph. 6:11-12 ‘’Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places’’.

1 Peter 5:8-9 ‘’Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world’’

We are constantly engaged in life battles – they are real, be it natural or spiritual. We need to realise and acknowledge these realities. These are some of the factors that we can attribute to life battles:

· Bereavement

· Mental & psychological battles

· Emotional problems

· Spiritual battles

· Financial battles

· Health problems

· Social problems

· Peer pressure

· Marital/Relationship strife

· Business/ Career trials

· Wars (Family, Community, National)

· Insecurity

· Natural disasters

· . . . and many others.

Some of these battles come with no warning whatsoever and are in various sizes and phases.

The Horse – Prepared for Battle

Proverbs 21:31 ‘’The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD’’

Job 39:19 ‘’Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?’’

1 Corinthians 14:8 ‘’For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?’’

In scripture the horse is used as a symbol of fleshly strength and might in war as described in Job 39:19-25, Psalms 20:7, Psm 33:16-17 & Psm 147:10

The horse is a solid-hoofed domesticated mammal used for pulling carts for war and for pleasure riding and racing. The horse has to be prepared against the day of battle or for whatever purpose it may be for. In racing the horse is prepared through intense training – months before the race.

In the case of American Indians going to war – the soldier would knot up the horse’s tail to prevent the enemy from taking hold of it and using it to take him down. He would plait the mane to prevent his bow and arrow getting entangled during combat. For war – horses were prepared both for emergency and planned wars. Vet checks, appropriate food for strength, and all necessary training and exercise regimes were carried out. So not only was the horse prepared in order to have speed and strength for the battle but preventative measures were put in place to ensure that the enemy could not pick on its weak areas. The American Indians would also decorate the horse in order to identify with their own and these decorations would usually tell a story about who the Indian and his horse were and were capable of.

We Are – God’s Battle Axe (prophetic)

Jeremiah 51:21-23 ‘’Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers’’

Psalm 18:38-40 ‘’I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me’’.

Just as the horse was the vehicle in use for battle – in the same manner we are God’s vehicle to accomplish His purposes on earth. We serve a royal God and one of the great roles for kings is to ensure safety, security and prosperity for their subjects. We are a royal priesthood – 1 Peter 2:5, 9 – we have a responsibility to keep our place in God safe from the enemy.

We are God’s battle axe and weapons of war to bring about the change not only in our personal lives but in our community. If we cannot battle the ant around us how can we battle for others? I pray that you will be inspired and not expire. Inspiration as God’s battle axe will cause you to aspire to greater heights and fight through to achieve that which you desire. You can only possess what you are willing to pursue.

Jere. 12:5 ‘’If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?’’

When people come across trials – the tendency is to give up. (Luke 18:1) If you get weary on a foot battle, how will you contend with ‘horses’ in some pursuits of business and personal life? Achievers do not give in until victory comes. You are an achiever – do not give in.

The Battle – Is the Lord’s

Psm 24:8 ‘’Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle’’.

Psm 20:6-8 ‘’Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright’’.

Josh 5:13-15 ‘’And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so’’.

One basic thing should always be in the depth of our spirit – and that is to know that no amount of self made strength can get us truly out of these battles (Zech. 4:6). If we could, the credit crunch would have left only a few in the red. All are looking for a miracle to deliver them because their strength has come to an end. The good news is that the battle of life is the Lord’s. You need not fight in your own strength – hand it all over to God. This is what David did to triumph over Goliath. Commit that marital, business, career, financial battle to the Lord; He will definitely fix it for you. It doesn’t matter how small or how big it may appear or look, the Lord will fix it again and again.

1 Sam 17:47-49 ‘’And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands. AND IT CAME TO PASS, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slung it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth’’.

Prov 21:31 ‘’The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD’’.

You can triumph over that monster of health, finance, business and relationship breakdown. Don’t give up or own up to the enemy, just keep on keeping on until your miracle comes from the Lord. It’s only what the Lord does that last for ever to authenticate His handwork and His glory in His Church on earth – that includes you.

Dare Plan – Be Prepare for Life Battle

Prov. 16:1, 3, 7, 9 ’’The preparations of the heart belong to man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD . . . Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established . . . When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. A man’s heart plans his way: but the LORD directs his steps’’

Mark 1:35 ‘’And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he (Jesus) went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed’’.

Josh. 1:8 ‘’This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest OBSERVE to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success’’

I’ve called back again and again what you very well know. That conflicts are real, battles are real regardless of what people think or the angle from which you are looking. The book of Jeremiah 12:5 challenges us not to grow weary when life’s battles come for if we faint for men on foot how then can we compete with big time business magnets in our society. The Bible says that if we faint, our faith (strength) is small – Proverbs 24:10.

Life battles come to us in various forms, times and seasons, we must be alert or else we will be caught in the net – Eccl 9:11-12. Our arc enemy who is the architect of our battles goes to and fro seeking for whom he may devour and disrupt their God given dreams. While the battles belong to the Lord, you have also the responsible of planning and preparing ahead of all battles of life. Failing to Plan and prepare, is otherwise the act of planning and preparing to fail in life. GOD FORBIDS!

Learning the principles of life from our lord Jesus – I will give you just two principles – not limited however – that will enable you to crush your enemy and to achieve your desired goals for 2009 as you plan and prepare.

· Principle of Prayer and worship – Mark 1:35, Luke 18:1. Be alert in the spirit of prayers with God the Father. Fellowship with the Holy Spirit, the chief executive of God concerning all the happenings in the WORLD today, He will lead you through in all life battles with victory. You can’t afford to do life battles without the Holy Spirit in Prayers as an achiever in Christ Jesus our Lord– 1 Cor. 2:6-16.

· Principle of studying the Word and doing the Word of God, in order to receive revelation, inspiration and empowering to deal with the affairs of life at any level – Josh 1:8, Psm 1:1-3, 2 Tim 2:15, 2 Tim 3:14-17; James 1:22-25.

When you know the mind of God – you will by the word – and you saturate it with God’s grace in prayers, you will ever win these battles no matter what it takes and how long it takes. The scripture says that the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him – But we have the mind of Christ. Amen! 1Cor. 2:14-16.

Consequences – Being Ill-Prepared

2 Sam. 11:1-5 ‘’And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child’’

Psm. 78:9-11 ’’The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; And forgot his works, and his wonders that he had showed them’’

Under the sun, the Battles of life most times comes our way with the intent to stop us from achieving God’s purposes in our life as we take our stand in Christ. Idleness and standstill position is one cunning and crafty way it comes and it does not only destroy an individual, it makes those around you suffer the same defeat when you yield to it – as failing in life battles always demands that.

The Scripture says it was the time when kings go to batter, but David decides not to go to war (Rev. 5:9-10; 1Pet. 2:5, 9). As a result of that idleness – the devil workshop they say – he fell into adultery that caused him confusion and family decadence for the rest of his family life. He began to make so many wrong judgements afterwards and his children went in the same lineage after him. That is the greatest strategy of life. To create a problem which posterity can’t fathom, but suffer same due to the error of another.

The children of Ephraim, who are meant to fight in the battle for God’s people, return without a shot from the battle field on the day of battle. What a great disappointment that an army fully armed and equipped returns without a shot in the midst of war. Israel was defeated that day. That is the kind of pain and disappointment that you get when those much trusted disappoint. And you see it in all areas of life – Marriage, business, career, parenthood, education, name it etc.

When people are self centred, they will never do anything for you on the day of your battle – these are vision and mission killers – they destroy faithful trust and the confidence of others for their selfish reasons.

This is why you should prepare, live ready and lean on God and not the kind of men with Ephraim’s and David’s spirit and attitude – on the day of battle.

Finally – The Winning Spirit

Isaiah 28:5-6 ‘’In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate’’.

2Corinthian 2:14 ‘’Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place’’

1Corinthian 14:8 ‘’For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?’’

The trumpet is sounded; the battle stage of life is set for 2009. The prepared horse has a winning spirit. When the trumpet is sounded for battle, all that the prepared horse has in mind is to win every battle no matter what it takes. Know for certain as in the scriptures that you are God’s battle axe and weapon of war to create and give hope to this generation – Jeremiah 51:20-24.

Beloved, as an achiever of God with a desired mandate, my prayer for you and all involved with my commission is to see each one triumph in this God intended mission to raise an amazing and majestic generation. God is raising a generation of hope, passionate with love, driven by faith in all life battles and with a mindset to be victorious and triumphant in life – year 2009 inclusive.

I challenge you in this year 2009 to take on again that business, career, marriage, parenthood, education and that seemingly impossible project you desire and pursue it with a winning spirit. So were you born of God to win in life in Christ Jesus, any day, anytime and anyhow – 2Cor. 2:14.

Therefore, go forth in year 2009, month by month, week by week and day by day winning the battle of life. I perceive in my spirit that this year 2009 that there is a reality of life for you to be a true STRANGER to defeat and failure. This is imminent and very possible indeed. See it and live for the greatest!

Be awake, alert and ready before the day battle begins. So, I pray by the grace of God that you will see your DAY even before its dawn, for so is the achiever mindset to life, even as our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen! – Mark 1:35.

DARE BE PREPARED . . . WINNING IN LIFE TRIUMPHANTLY

In His World For His Glory,

Pst. Chukie MORSI