Alert! Alert! Who Is Your Word-Smith?

As I sit here in my den, watching the news and pondering world events; especially the global economy and the present economic challenges here in the U.S.; I can also see the impact on the Church of Jesus Christ (globally and locally). There are a plethora of solutions and excuses being offered to us all regarding the state of our economy. Many believe the solution will be a political one, others say the answer is in getting a good education. Some believe if we would just all “go green” the world’s economic problems would be solved. I can go on and on listing many of the world’s solutions and excuses for our present economic condition. While I believe all the fore-mentioned venues may have a part to play in solving our economic woes, more often than not, it seems we tend to leave out the vital role that the Word of God plays in the prosperity of a Nation as well as local churches and individuals. So please, allow me to address the prosperity of the nation, local churches and individuals from a spiritual perspective!

From a spiritual perspective, Satan (the Devil) does not want the people of God and nations that stand for righteousness to prosper because he knows true Christians will use their prosperity to promote righteousness and not unrighteousness. He knows they will use their prosperity to build the Church of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God and destroy the kingdom of darkness! So what does Satan do? He constantly attacks the prosperity of the people of God! This is seen in the Bible story of Gideon. Most people associate the story of Gideon with the following: (1) Gideons 300 – God doesn’t require great numbers to bring us victory! (2) Gideons Cowardliness– But God made him a Conquer! (3) Gideon’s Fleece– His lack of Faith! But I believe most Christians have missed a much more fundamental truth that the story of Gideon teaches:

• That God gives FINANCIAL BREAKTRHOUGH to his people!
• That God will deliver us out of our poverty and lack in a miraculous way when we turn to Him and obey His voice!

I know, some of you are thinking, okay – here we go again; another preacher talking about money! And besides, what does the story of Gideon have to do with prosperity and financial breakthrough? Lets start by looking at  the Book of Judges 6:1-6:

  ¹And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. ²And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.  ³And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; ⁴And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.  ⁵For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it. ⁶And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.

The story of Gideon opens up with a record of God’s people being in disobedience to God’s voice; they were in sin! Because of their sin they found themselves in a seven(7)-year season of poverty / lack! We read this in verse one of the scriptures above. Listen, don’t be deceived, sin and immorality impacts your prosperity and the economy! It’s important to understand that during those seven(7) years the enemy of God’s people did not come and occupy their land continually, nor did they take them captive to another land. Why? Because their enemies’ primary objective was to attack and destroy their prosperity! Notice the Word of God says when Israel (God’s people) “had sown,” they were attacked! In other words, verse 3 above, tells us that the enemy of God’s people waited until they had sown, and harvest time was at hand before they attacked. Like Satan, who only comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10), the Midianites and Alliances would allow God’s people to sow, but at the time of harvest (when it was time to reap!) they (the Midianites) “destroyed the increase of the earth!” The enemy left the people of God with no sustenance. As a result, “Israel was greatly impoverished BECAUSE of the Midianites.” We read that in verse 6 in the scripture above.

Now, let me share something with you that I believe will be a revelation to some. The enemy of your soul (Satan) wants you prosperous (productive) enough to steal from you, but not prosperous (productive) enough to destroy his kingdom of darkness! I think I better say that again: The enemy of your soul (Satan) wants you prosperous enough to steal from you, but not prosperous enough to destroy his kingdom of darkness! We see this spiritual principle in 1 Samuel chapter 13:16-23:

¹⁶And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash. ¹⁷And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual: ¹⁸And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. ¹⁹Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: ²⁰But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. ²¹Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. ²²So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. ²³And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.

Here, once again, God’s people is facing their enemies. This time the enemy is the Philistines and God’s people are under the leadership of Saul and his son Jonathan. The word of God tells us that the Philistines sent out three companies of raiders (spoilers) to come against God’s people! Again, their primary purpose was to steal and destroy the prosperity of God’s people. The Word of God’s says they were raiders or spoilers which reveals their purpose! The enemy of your soul actually has a strategy to keep you in lack (the Philistines sent out three different companies to three different locations). We read this in verses 16-18 in the scriptures above. The Word of God goes on to tell us that their was no Smith (Black Smith) throughout all the land of God’s people! Why? Because the Philistines (the enemy of God’s people) wanted to make sure God’s people were not armed enough to stop their raids on the prosperity of God’s people! In fact, the Word of God goes on to say that God’s people had to go down to the Philistines’ Smith (the enemy of God’s people) to sharpen their farming tools. In the day of battle, God’s people did not have a sword or spear to defend themselves and their prosperity against their enemies. Only King Saul and Jonathan were armed. We read this in verses 19-22.

Again, the enemy of your soul wants you productive enough to steal from you, but not productive enough to destroy his kingdom of darkness. Notice the key to limiting the productivity and prosperity of God’s people was to keep them away from God’s Smith, and to force them to go to the Philistines’ Smith (Black Smith). The Philistines’ Smith (the World’s Smith) will only arm you enough to be productive so they can steal from you, but not productive enough to defend your prosperity and defeat your enemy. God’s Smith is a Word-Smith! God’s Smith is a Pastor skilled in the Word of God, to teach, train and equip you with the Word of God. God’s Word Smith will arm you with the Word of God so you can fight the good fight of faith (2 Timothy 4:7) ! The Bible says the Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). The Word of God also tells us to “ARM” ourselves with the mind of Christ (1 Peter 4:1)! This is done by regularly and consistently sitting under the teaching of your Word-Smith (Pastor).

Alert! Alert! Who Is Your Word-Smith? During these challenging economic times, are you giving heed to the World’s Smith and ignoring God’s Word-Smith for your life? Have you allowed the enemy of your soul to deceive you into believing that the Word of God, sin, immorality and spiritual things have no real bearing on your prosperity or productivity? Are you allowing a worldly-smith (ungodly politicians, educators, Hollywood, etc.) to sharpen your tools of productivity and forge your spiritual weapons? I challenge you today to get back to your Word-Smith (Pastor)! At a time when people are desperately in need of God’s provision in the person of a Word-Smith (Pastor), it seems many people have neglected the Word-Smith in their life. The enemy of your soul (Satan) is working diligently to keep you from a godly Word-Smith (from your productivity and prosperity). He will use anything from offense to oppression to keep you away from the House of God and His Word-Smith (Pastor). If you don’t understand this principle I am teaching, Satan will even use your prosperity to keep you away from your Word-Smith (Pastor). Even though it is the ministry of your Word-Smith that helped arm you spiritually for your present prosperity, you can get to a place where you no longer feel his ministry is as important in your life. Remember, as you prosper in your life under the ministry of your Word-Smith, don’t move away from your foundation, but rather build on it. It’s my prayer and belief that as you sit up under  your Word-Smith (Pastor), you will be armed with a sword (word) of victory like Gideon (Judges 7:14-20) and like Johnathan (1 Samuel 13:22; 14:13)!