Four Stages of MANHOOD – Man Up!

Manhood – Part Two 1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things As you recall, we are talking about the development of men of God, generally in four […]

Manhood – Part Two

1 Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things

As you recall, we are talking about the development of men of God, generally in four stages that were: boyhood, manhood, fatherhood, and the age of the patriarch.

No matter how great our earthly family may have been, we are now part of the royal family of God, training for reigning with Jesus!

As always, we begin and end with the Word of God!

Training and discipline can develop our soul, forge our will, but the Word of God has the power to change our very heart motives….

Ephesians 4:14

that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

1 Corinthians 14:20

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

Hebrews 12:5

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Galatians 4:19

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you

Fathers in the faith, pray, for us to grow up spiritually, to embrace our manhood, to rise up to honor and responsibility in this fight of faith in this generation.

2 Timothy 3:15

and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus

We teach our children the Scriptures, but it is our life of honor that they watch!

Back in the days when I used to pastor, we used to do a ‘passage of rites’ ceremony with young men and women between the ages of 13-18. I took the idea from a book I read by an author named Craig Hill, where he teaches on the development of boys into men: http://www.promisekeepers.org.nz/bar_mitzvah.html

I agree with Craig, as I have endeavoured to learn protocol, the traditions and cultures of the host peoples of North America, North American Indians. In many tribes, a boy becomes a brave or warrior, only after their initiation ceremony, where acts of bravery needed to be exhibited. In some tribes, a young man had to ‘count coup’ riding up to an enemy with his ‘coup stick’ and touching him without being killed, and riding away in victory, having ‘counted coup.’ In other tribes, there were ‘rites of passage’ ceremonies that included running through tunnels of pain, where seasoned warriors beat them with sticks, or culturally required acts of bravery, where they had to complete a vision quest, or spend a night blindfolded in the forest over night.

From what I understand in the Jewish Bar Mitzva ceremony, boys were expected to go to work with their fathers after school, to learn responsibility, earn money and learn how to manage it, and become men.

What we used to do, is plan ahead, and get either the fathers, uncles, grandparents or older men in a young man’s life to write a declaration of honor, love and respect to be read over the young man. We would tape a line on the carpet, and all the men in the church would come forward to the front side of the line. The young teens would stand on the outer side of the tape. I would read a proclamation declaring that this day, they were forever leaving boyhood, to become strong men of honor, embracing the risks and responsibilities of manhood in their community, standing strong for their families, against evil in society, as men. I would present them with some token of manhood (usually a pocket knife, although some dads gave firearms etc), and then had the prepared proclamations of blessing read over each one by their elders. I would then have them leave childhood forever, by stepping across the line. All of us men would then lay hands upon them and pray and proclaim blessing over each participant.

Saw dramatic change in young peoples lives! Young gangsters would suddenly leave criminal lifestyles, and often join cadets, or get job to help at home. Shoulders would square up, and chests would swell with pride, as they embraced the call to be men!

This is so needed today! With a 50-60% divorce rate in America, boys are not taught to be men, and we, the church must rise to the challenge, and become fathers to the fatherless, accepting, affirming, challenging, exhorting, and discipling and calling forth warriors of righteousness for this generation!

Whether it was the Jewish Bar Mitzvah ceremony, or getting ‘jumped into’ a street gang, it is clearly part of the process for boys to become men, warriors, through initiation ceremony by the men of the community or tribe.

Seems this has been forgotten in many sectors of North American society, but the hunger in the heart of every man will be fulfilled in battle, or the essential part of him dies…

Manhood look like

So much can be said here, but I will say this, after years in Promise Keepers, my childhood growing up on military bases as the son of a military officer, or in the various men’s ministries in which I have participated over the years, that boys must become men! Sure warriors get wounded in battle, but the church is the army of God! We have an infirmary, and there should be no man left behind, but make no mistake about it, we are an army, the army of God, called and commissioned to fight!

Luke 19:13

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Matthew 16:18

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Recognizing the huge hole in this culture by fatherless families, I built and co-owned a construction company for many years simply, primarily, to take boys, and make men out of them.

Read a quote by another author I respect:

From a sermon entitled: ‘Fathered by God, by John Eldredge’

“In the lesson, John touched on some topics that he covered in his bestselling book Wild At Heart, such as answering the question that plagues all men: “Do I have what it takes?” But he also introduced six new stages of initiation that he has taken his boys through that have proved to be great steps for Christian discipleship.

According to Eldredge, all men have to go through these steps to become whole and holy men. It begins with “Boyhood,” where a boy learns that he is the “Beloved Son” and entirely delighted in by his father. Then, it moves into “Cowboy,” where the young man must experience adventure and danger (think: David’s teenage years of battling lions and bears as a shepherd). Following that, the boy becomes a “Warrior,” often leaving home to pursue a cause or a mission.

At roughly the same time (but hopefully not before) the man is learning that life is a battle, the Warrior must learn to fight for his beloved and become a “Lover,” but still remaining a warrior for the rest of his life. Many years later, with the right humility and direction, the Warrior-Lover becomes a “King.” That is, the man steps into true leadership and responsibility, guiding and directing the lives of others. And lastly, he finishes his latter years as a “Sage,” sharing his wisdom with other men and women, guiding them in their journey.”

If you haven’t read John’s book: Wild at Heart, I highly recommend it. http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Heart-Discovering-Secret-Mans-ebook/dp/B00527N04O/ref=dp_kinw_strp_exp_1_1

In short, John calls his stages of manhood by different names, but the principals are the same.

Let’s talk about the transition from boyhood to manhood for a minute.

I’ve noticed that boys all go through what John calls the ‘cowboy’ stage, warriorhood.

I watch young men race cars, ride bulls, become soldiers, martial arts experts, hunters, adventurers, because I believe God created all men with this natural ‘wild side’.

Becoming a man is becoming a warrior, developing courage under control. I watch young men all making their mark in the world, joining the military, oil industry, rodeo, construction, or any other rough and ready world. Testosterone going somewhere to happen, working long brutal hours in the face of real danger to life and limb, to make their mark on this generation.

Like David before confronting Goliath: 1 Samuel 17:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

Yes, there is a cause! Freedom has never been free, just pick your battlefield, enlist in God’s army, and fight!

Whether in prayer, preaching, missions, business, education, military, cival services, finance, or media, truth is a sword, and there are battles to be fought.

No matter what stage you are at in your life, there are injustices to be confronted, but like the wise mentor of Willam Wallace in the movie ‘Braveheart’, ‘First the mind, then the sword!’

Get educated, skilled, and choose your battles wisely, so that as you fight, you fight to win!

Seemed when I had my construction company, I would have to throw a rope on those often unbroken wild men, and teach them respect, responsibility, faithfulness, dependability, keeping your word, craftsmanship, and directed work ethic, without breaking their spirit, and still keeping the fire in them!

I am raising up men of honor, respectful, full of honesty, integrity, excellence, but when they look you in the eye, they look right through you, because there is still fire and steel there!

I’ve noticed this about myself: if I go too long simply keeping the schedule, making the deadlines, and punching the clock, I get to feeling like a hamster on a treadmill: running hard, but going no where.

There must be some mountain to climb, race to run, adrenaline pumping fast machine to drive, water-skiing, or some other impossible task or death defying deed in my schedule, or I quietly die inside. Gone through months of numbness, physically showing up, but not really alive!

Do something radical! Go on a mission trip to a different country, language, culture – confront the oppression, the poverty, the ignorance and fight for the oppressed!

Maybe you are called as a soldier or law enforcement agent, to literally take on crime and the ‘bad guys’ on the front lines. Everyone hates a bully – don’t be one, but be strong enough to dethrone any merchandizing the weak – the drug lords, the child sex traffickers, the pimps and religious bullies who beat women and children. Dad served 32 years in the navy and his counsel is still valid:

Real Men don’t hit women, they stand strong in defense of women and children.

Ok, enough sharing for a bit, if I go longer, you won’t take time to read it.

I’m pretty big on action so here’s some things you can do:

If you have never been affirmed as a man, take this article to your pastor men’s group, and have them first of all affirm you, and pray that God complete you as a man, a warrior, and eventually as a husband, father, and responsible member of society.
If you had a dad (what a concept!), and you have been through a ‘passage of rites’ type of ceremony, create one in your community. Deliberately reach out to teens and young men, and call them to excellence, warriorhood, responsibility, and honor. If your pastor is not interested, organize some sort of men’s advance (the army of God never retreats), and get in touch with me, and I will come preach and lead it.
Not sure what the next men’s movement in America is going to look like. Promise Keepers in its day was a powerful force for good, full gospel businessman had a day in the sun too. Whatever it’s called, get involved, and get your business, family, and church on board too. Manhood means excellence, honor, holiness – Man up!Father, I come before you today with my brother. I ask You Father to do for me, what no man can do: put into me all the things a perfect father would have if he could have. Pour into me the courage, boldness, affirmation, strength, passion and fire I need to radically impact my world, and restore to me all the things I never got growing up. Cause me to walk in honor, free from profanity, bullying, cowardice, perversion, pornography, lying, and develop in me an excellent spirit, strong in You and the power of Your might. I ask Father, knowing I am heard and answered, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen!”

Let’s Pray:

Father, I come before you today with my brother. I ask You Father to do for me, what no man can do: put into me all the things a perfect father would have if he could have. Pour into me the courage, boldness, affirmation, strength, passion and fire I need to radically impact my world, and restore to me all the things I never got growing up. Cause me to walk in honor, free from profanity, bullying, cowardice, perversion, pornography, lying, and develop in me an excellent spirit, strong in You and the power of Your might. I ask Father, knowing I am heard and answered, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen!”

If forever reason, you have not come to God on His terms yet, here’s what He expects:https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/11/10/the-gospel-the-power-of-god/

For prayer, comments, or to donate online:

Email: chris.aomministries@gmail.com

Donate on-line: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=95XHSDDXDS7MC

Give in faith!

1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?

1 Corinthians 9:14 [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.

Paul goes on to say, that he did not use his position as a minister of the gospel to take up offerings, rather he worked, making tents, to support himself. You might notice here, that Paul was not married, nor did he have children. Family responsibilities take time, and just as you bust a move on your job to provide for your family, I work every bit as hard, doing this, faithful to the Lord in prayer and the ministry of His Word, to you.

I will never charge for this: it my responsibility to God, my calling. Freely I have been given, now, I freely give…

As you give, hear Holy Spirit what to give, and honestly expect God to reward you for your giving.

Matt 10: 41 He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward.

I have ‘see through’ faith for you, in this: Gal 3: 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

I believe I have a responsibility before God to be like Jesus, in every offering I receive. I receive it with thanksgiving, just like Jesus did the little boys lunch.

Then, because I walk and live by faith according to the blessing of Abraham, I believe that God will take your seed sown, and multiply it, according to what the blessing of Abraham promises:

Genesis 22:17 In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies

It has been a joy to me, to see the hand of the living God act in the lives of those of you who have supported us this year!

Many have seen tremendous blessing come into your households, and for this we give thanks, and give Jesus all the glory!

Gossip

Trusting God instead of people sounds good in theory, but is brutal during tough times of adversity and controversy.

strife-of-tongues
Sometimes, the best counsel in controversy, is that of brother Kenneth Hagin, ‘When persecuted, let your response be: No attack, no defense. Let love cover the gossip and controversy. If they are right, correct yourself, and go on. If they are wrong, let God deal with them, and He your defense.”

Easily said, but not so easily accomplished!

Lies, insinuations, libel, slander – HURT!

You are doing your best to obey God, love the world, be an instrument of healing and expansion for the kingdom of God, and then BAM! You learn of some dirt spoken about you, that is often so evil, it takes your breath away.

Well, the devil is called, the accuser of the brethren for a reason. He is evil!

Don’t get proud, or self-righteous. We all came from dirt (Adam), and were born and conceived in sin.

Proverbs 13:10

Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom

pride

Though we have become the righteousness of God in Christ, children of the most high, we all have flesh.
Flesh cannot cast out flesh!

If we enter into offense and strife, we enter into the devils playground:
devils-playground

James 3:16

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

This is not how we must live!
Chasing gossip is like trying to nail Jello to the wall. You can get a nail in it, but it just makes a bigger mess.

Ephesians 6:12

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

So how do we win?

Well, here is how I am doing it.

Acknowledge the pain the breach of trust has caused.

Denial is not a river in Egypt, and doesn’t help heal, nor increase the kingdom of God.
denial-river-in-egypt

When bad things have been done and said about us, take them to our Father in heaven, and cry the tears you need to. He knows, He cares, He loves, and He will heal you, and correct them if your heart is right. This is not easy, but will always produce a trip to the cross, to die yet another death to self.

Romans 8:13

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Lift up the shield of faith, and the shield of favor.

Ephesians 6:16

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Notice here, that the shield of faith will do you no good, unless YOU TAKE IT!

Isaiah 54:17 (AMP)

¹⁷But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.
God will vindicate, and stop the accuser of the brethren. Weapons WILL be formed, but they will not succeed, if you trust in Jesus and TAKE the shield of faith.

If you do not pray, and do not lift up the word of God to stop demonic forces operating through the minds and lives of people, this mess can go on for a very long time…

Yet, in order to fully understand this attack, you need to see it for what it is: it is an attack against the kingdom of God.

When we walk with God, He gives us favor with people. This favor comes because He loves us, and to build His kingdom.

When satan sees this, he fears us, so he tries to stop us.

His ABC‘s are Accusation, Blame and Criticism. The insidious realm of rumor, slander, and character assignation by insinuation….

insinuation

It is an attack upon your honor, your promotion, your prosperity, and your favor.

Psalm 5:12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield

Well, Chris, if am not supposed to fight with people, what AM I supposed to do?
sanctity

The shield of faith is only one weapon in the armor of God, there is also a sword, which is the word of God. (Pretty good weapon too, it is the only weapon Jesus used against satan himself in Matt 4: IT IS WRITTEN!)

sword-flame

Warrior: We are to lift up our shield and sword, and take the battle to the enemy!

Enough teaching, let’s do this now:

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, I hurt. You see what has been done, said, insinuated against me. I forgive them. Now please heal my heart, and give me Your grace to love them, and to overcome evil with good. I take the shield of faith, and choose to declare that No weapon formed against me shall prosper, and that ever tongue risen up against me, shall be shown to be in error, as I deliberately trust you to vindicate me. Father, restore to me, Your favor. I bind every evil spirit arrayed against me today, and stand as Your child, in Your power, in Your kingdom today, with my eyes upon You and Your leadership to me. Jesus, I trust You to show me what to do, and how to walk in Your wisdom, to see Your kingdom advance today. Amen.

Lord Jesus, you promised to never leave me nor forsake me, and that You are my good shepherd, and that I would hear your voice today. Holy Spirit, speak to me what I need to Do, and help me to do it, in your name I pray Lord Jesus. Amen.
Pray, and obey Holy Spirit today!

Good
God is good, kind, and remember, He is love!

The Warrior Heart of Jesus

This is an excerpt from my curriculum I am writing…
warrior lord

Let’s see the Warrior Heart of Father God at work in the ministry of our Lord Jesus. Let’s look at the account of the death of John the Baptist, Jesus pastor, and best friend in the earth.

Mark 6:14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”

16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.

18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

Hear this, truth will make strong-willed people angry. Yet, the Bible also says that the fear of man brings a snare. If you are going to succeed in life, you need to decide right up front, to be a God-pleaser rather than a man-pleaser.

19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,

20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled ; yet he liked to listen to him.

21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”

23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

See this? Any of you Bible scholars remember these words from another place in Scripture?

Esther 5:3) Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

See what happened here? Years before, one little queen went before a righteous king, taking her life in her hands, on behalf of her people, the people of God. This king heard her, and through this event, God moved and delivered His people. Now, we have another queen, with murder and political intrigue in her heart, appearing before a drunken tyrant. Satan or one of his demons inspired the whole thing, trying to stop the word of God out of the mouth of John from being spoken in the earth. He was successful, and the blind, drunken king yielded to his concubine, and had the man of God, murdered.

Mark 6:24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,

28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.

29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Notice, the response of John’s disciples: they went and told Jesus. When horrible things happen, that’s good advice. You too need to ‘go and tell Jesus’.

30) The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Obviously, the death of John hurt Jesus deeper than any of us can comprehend. John was perhaps the only man on the face of the planet who truly knew who Jesus was. Jesus decided, enough is an enough, I need a break, and so do you, so He headed out to the desert, away from the crowds.

32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

33 But many that saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.

34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Remember, Jesus only did the will of the Father, right? See here. We know the blood of Jesus has a voice in the heavens and the earth, a voice greater than Abel.

Heb 12:24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

So it was with the blood of John the Baptist. When John’s head was cut from his body, his spirit went to paradise, or Abraham’s bosom. Yet his blood was spilled, and it too had a voice, that ascended through the heavens to cry ‘justice’ before the very throne of God, our Father, judge of all the universe. Our Father, Lord Sabboeth, heard that cry, and saw the blasphemy of Satan against Himself, and immediately He acted. One of his servants had died, but there was another son in the earth, and He moved His hand against the kingdom of darkness.

warrior lightening

NIV is not strong enough here. KJV reads And Jesus, moved with compassion towards them.

See it, Jesus moved with compassion, began to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and cast out devils, hitting Satan where it hurts. Taking back from him souls of men. Our Father is a warrior who fights for the oppressed.
warrior bible

You are a son or daughter of the most high. If Satan has hurt you with some horrible atrocity, hit him back with the word of God, and preach the gospel…

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, I hurt. You know, you see what was done, and you love…give me courage to pick up the sword of the spirit, and to preach Jesus to the madness and mayhem, that satan pay for what he has done in the lives of those you love…Amen’

Man Up!

Today is Mother’s Day, and yet I found this old exhortation I wrote to men some time back. Best thing we can do for the mothers of the world is:

Man up!
Chris Karen Walsh's photo.
Judges 4: 8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
Chris Karen Walsh's photo.
10 ¶ And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.

The verse says it all. Manhood is required in life and leadership. Heard a minister say the requirements of ministry in this day were: Miracles, Money, and Moxy!

Believing we all rise up in Jesus, in manhood and moxy today, to be the warriors, fathers, husbands, and leaders this hour demands….Selah!

Let’s Pray:

Father, give me courage to be brave against the forces of moral compromise in this mixed up world today, in Your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.

Anakins

Darth vader
Jos 11:21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.

Saw this picture, and thought of the Star Wars movies we have watched as a family. A hero goes bad, gives himself over to demon power, and becomes Darth Vader. The life of Anakim Skywalker.

Great entertainment, but fantasy.

In the Bible, there were real people, who served demon spirits, that were enemies of the people of God.
Just noticed, the different response the next generation had towards enemies, after 40 years in the desert.

Remember the 12 spies?

Number 13: 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.
28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Don’t think the sons of Anak got any smaller, but obviously the people of God, got a greater revelation of the victorious power of our God in battle!
manhood courage
In life, danger is real, but fear is optional.

De 1:30 The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;

De 3:22 Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.
Chris Karen Walsh's photo.

De 20:4 For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

When we walk holy, pure lives, in courage, we will always defeat the Anakims of this world, for God Almighty, Creator of the universe will fight for us.
Chris Karen Walsh's photo.

Let’s pray:
“Father, please show us your power, and victorious right hand, as you fight for us, your church, your children, today, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen!”

Warrior Strength

Warrior Strength!

I am the storm

Ps 33:16
The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.

17 Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
for all its strength, it cannot save you.

18 But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
those who rely on his unfailing love.

19 He rescues them from death
and keeps them alive in times of famine

It is good to be strong, but strength, weapons, great leadership, and military will not protect and deliver you in the day of battle.

Jesus alone will do that.

Always remember when you see wicked people, that their next heartbeat is only granted them at the hands of their Creator. ‪#‎JesusIsLord‬

1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember, faith in the battle will bring victory:

Remember Daivid’s mighty men?

We read of Shammah:

2 Samuel 23:12

But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.

Remember warrior, Jesus will give victory when we fight for what is right…

Let’s pray:

‘Psalm 144:1

Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: God Almighty may I stand strong in this generation for You and Your cause, unafraid of wickedness, bold in my faith and my warfare for Jesus. Amen’

The Warrior Heart of God

Well, all you men and women of God, and militant church, this is a side of God, you’ve been waiting for me to teach.

The Warrior Heart of God

His name is Lord Sabboeth, God of armies, Lord of Hosts.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,

2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Let’s take a look at a verse in Joshua 23:8-10

(Josh 23:8 NIV) But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.

(Josh 23:9 NIV) “The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you.

(Josh 23:10 NIV) One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised.

We see God Himself fighting for his people throughout the Old Testament. As your Father, He will fight for you, His child.

Let’s look at a few more:

In this account, we find Joshua marching into the Promised Land. Four armies joined together having decided to wipe out the armies of Israel, the princes of God, the army of the living God. Let’s pick it up here in:

(Josh 10:8 NIV) The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”

Notice this: if you’re facing a fight, you’d better get a strategy from heaven before you engage. David was undefeated in battle, every time He sought God for a battle plan he won. When he went out in his own strength, he lost. So, you spiritual Rambo’s about blast devils and move mountains in this generation, hear this: Learn to be led by the spirit of God! If you don’t, you may find like I have, pain has been a wonderful instructor.

Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

(Josh 10:9 NIV) After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise.

How did he know to march all night? Prayer. He obeyed God.

(Josh 10:10 NIV) The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.

Who threw them into confusion? The Lord! Our mighty warrior!

(Josh 10:11 NIV) As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them from the sky, and more of them died from the hailstones than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

Again and again, we see God act on behalf of his advancing army. Destroying our enemies, making them our footstool.

(Josh 10:12 NIV) On the day the LORD gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

(Josh 10:13 NIV) So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.

(Josh 10:14 NIV) There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!

Look at these verses! That the authority God has invested in us, His church operating in the earth. When we get full of the Holy Spirit, and begin to operate in greater obedience, God can release in us, greater anointing. You recall how God did a similar miracle here in the summer of 98. For six weeks we held outdoor meetings, and each week as we set-up, it rained. Yet, by faith, we set-up our sound system anyway, set ourselves in agreement, and decreed in the authority of God, “Rain, we command you to stop, sun come out, wind stop, that the gospel be preached here.” Instantly, the rain stopped, the wind died down and gently blew the clouds out of the way, and the sun shone down producing a wonderful, warm atmosphere where we had some great meetings.

Well, how did Joshua do this? He had to see himself in the word of God. Faith hasn’t changed; it still comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. So, what word did Joshua base his faith upon? All he had was the first five books of the Bible, the Pentateuch, and the Law of Moses. Could he have read?

(Deu 1:30 NIV) The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes,

Or perhaps:

(Deu 28:7 NIV) The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

Obedience produced boldness. There are great blessings in obedience.

Isaiah 1:19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

Ok, we see this again and again in the Old Testament.

Gideon, who with 300 men defeated over a hundred thousand, when God fought for him. Hezekiah. I like the story of Hezekiah, a picture of God’s mercy and love. You can read it in 2 Kings chapters 18-20, and again in Isaiah 36 and 37. Basically, an army came against Israel, and well,

God said:

(Isa 37:35 NIV) “I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!”

(Isa 37:36 NIV) Then the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning–there were all the dead bodies!

So, pastor Chris, why are you telling us about all people God killed. God loves us right? Yes, but He hates evil. I hear these carnal Christians set in their sin, years after accepting Christ, pleading “the blood, the blood/” over their sin. Yes, for all of you here. That’s some good word to put in your heart and mouth. Also, the imparted righteousness that’s yours as a blood-bought child of the king. These truths, studied and acted upon will guarantee you’ll never have to face what I’m about to say.

There comes a time, when we know better to do a thing, yet we insist on doing it anyway, for years. Satan makes sure God hears about it, he goes before God as the accuser of the brethren, determined to kill you when you make a mistake. The wages of sin are still death, and he’s a murderer. .At that point, God Himself determines to deal with the issue, whether you want to or not. When that day comes, people either let God break them, and go free, or they die.

Matthew 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

‘There should be those among whom we can sit and weep and still be counted as warriors’. Native American Proverb Photo by Rory Cripps

Proverbs 29:1 ¶ He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

We see this again in Joshua Chapter 5: 13 ¶ 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?

14 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?

15 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.

Some Bible scholars have called this a theophonay, a preincarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether an angel or the Lord Jesus Christ Himself we don’t know, but the point is this as leaders. We are but representatives of the great king. No matter how many gifts, how much authority He gives us, He is Lord. When He begins to act in our lives, we need to do like Joshua, and bow, fall on our face, worship, and then obey.

Since the heart of Jesus is mercy, I honestly believe they go to heaven, for Jesus speaking says:

(Rev 1:18 NIV) I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

God is love. So if He has a choice of sending on of His children to hell, or allowing them to die, he lets them die. In light of eternity, this is a small thing, even though down here, it’s sure hard on families and friends. People leave a big hole when they are gone.

As we learn to fight the fight of faith later in this life, I will teach you to wield the word of God as Jesus did, effectively thwarting the devils attacks with “It is written!” and establishing God’s kingdom through faith-filled words.

Ok, enough heavy-revvy. Let’s see the Warrior Heart of Father God at work in the ministry of our Lord Jesus. Let’s look at the account of the death of John the Baptist, Jesus pastor, and best friend in the earth.

(Mark 6:14 NIV) King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

(Mark 6:15 NIV) Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”

(Mark 6:16 NIV) But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

(Mark 6:17 NIV) For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married.

(Mark 6:18 NIV) For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

(Mark 6:19 NIV) So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,

(Mark 6:20 NIV) because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled ; yet he liked to listen to him.

(Mark 6:21 NIV) Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

(Mark 6:22 NIV) When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.”

(Mark 6:23 NIV) And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

See this? Any of you Bible scholars remember these words from another place in Scripture?

(Est 5:3 NIV) Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

(Mark 6:24 NIV) She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

(Mark 6:25 NIV) At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

(Mark 6:26 NIV) The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

(Mark 6:27 NIV) So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,

(Mark 6:28 NIV) and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.

(Mark 6:29 NIV) On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Notice, the response of John’s disciples: they went and told Jesus. When horrible things happen, that’s good advice. You too need to ‘go and tell Jesus’.

(Mark 6:30 NIV) The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.

(Mark 6:31 NIV) Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

(Mark 6:32 NIV) So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

(Mark 6:33 NIV) But many that saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.

(Mark 6:34 NIV) When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many

things.

Remember, Jesus only did the will of the Father, right? See here. We know the blood of Jesus has a voice in the heavens and the earth, a voice greater than Abel.

(Heb 12:24 NIV) to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

NIV is not strong enough here. KJV reads And Jesus, moved with compassion towards them.

(Mark 6:35 NIV) By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late.

(Mark 6:36 NIV) Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

(Mark 6:37 NIV) But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages ! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

(Mark 6:38 NIV) “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five–and two fish.”

(Mark 6:39 NIV) Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.

(Mark 6:40 NIV) So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

(Mark 6:41 NIV) Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

(Mark 6:42 NIV) They all ate and were satisfied,

Well, for now, God has people like me and Karen exercising His authority on your behalf, but know this. You too, are called to be a deliverer in the earth. God sees you in this chair, and sees souls in your future yet to be reached with the gospel.

1 John 3:8

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

You too are a son or daughter of God. God is growing you up so that the gift and calling of God upon your life will manifest, so that you can boldly say: For this purpose is this son of God manisfest, to destroy the works of the devil. What are the devils works? Lies, false religion, sickness, sin, and all that goes with it.

There is an upward call of God on your life, a destiny to be fulfilled, a glorious future set before you. You are a miracle going somewhere to happen. A history maker, a nation shaker, full of mountain-moving, devil stomping faith.

(Rom 8:29 NIV) For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Jesus is our big brother, as well as our Lord, but hear the words of the apostle Paul, a man who wrote two-thirds of the New Testament.

(Phil 3:13 NIV) Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

(Phil 3:14 NIV) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Get in the press, stay in the press, follow hard after God, and don’t look back. In light of eternity, there’s nothing else worth living for!

Homework:

Read about Hezekiah in 2 Kings Chapters 18, through 20, Isaiah 36 and 37.

What is the most important lesson we can learn from His life?

Answer: He knew his covenant with God! Mercy triumphed over judgement because of the knowledge of his covenant with God, the covenant God made to Israel through David.

Do you have enemies? Pray this:

Father, I thank you for fighting for, and defending me. It is written:

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

I believe this and receive it as my heritage, in Jesus name, AMEN.

For prayer, comments, or to donate online:

Email: chris.aomministries@gmail.com