So You Want to Come Against God’s Anointed

Before you decide to come against THE LORD’S ANOINTED, you ought to do some praying, reading and studying because this is a very important decision. 


Coming against God’s anointed man or woman is a very serious matter and if you do so, GOD will NOT be pleased with you.  You need to know that when you come against THE LORD’S ANOINTED, you are coming AGAINST GOD, HIMSELF!!!


THE LORD tells us plainly in HIS WORD, do NOT come against HIS ANOINTED!!! 


1 Chronicles 16: 22 (ESV) …“Touch not my anointed ones,
    do my prophets no harm!”


I think that part of the problem is that sometimes we begin to think or feel that someone is either NOT ANOINTED or maybe they are NO LONGER GOD’S ANOINTED!!!  And because of that, we don’t think that we are actually coming against GOD!!!  However, we are NOT GOD!!!  ONLY GOD can see a person’s heart and ONLY HE has the right to judge another person. 


On that note, let’s go to THE WORD!!!  Let’s look at King Saul.  Almost everyone knows that GOD rejected Saul from being king over Israel and had the prophet Samuel anoint David to be king. 


1 Samuel 16:1 (NKJV) Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.”


Saul saw that THE LORD was with David and he became jealous.  Saul began trying to kill David, but David refused to lift a hand against Saul. 


1 Samuel 18:10-11 (CEV)

¹⁰ …the Lord let an evil spirit take control of Saul, and he began acting like a crazy man inside his house. David came to play the harp for Saul as usual, but this time Saul had a spear in his hand. ¹¹ Saul thought, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” He threw the spear at David twice, but David dodged and got away both times.


THE WORD tells us again that GOD had left Saul, but still David refused to lay a hand on him.  David behaved wisely and that is what each of us needs to make sure that we do.


1 Samuel 18:12-16 (NKJV)

¹² Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul. ¹³ Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. ¹⁴ And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. ¹⁵ Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.


We must be careful, oh, so careful in speaking or coming against a person who is THE ANOINTED OF THE LORD!!! 


GOD uses HIS servant, David, to show us this!!!  As we can see by reading about David and how he treated Saul, even David realized that ONLY GOD can judge a person, even when that person is coming against us and trying to destroy us!!! 


1 Samuel 24:1-12 (NKJV)

24 Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, “Take note! David is in the Wilderness of En Gedi.” ² Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. ³ So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.)

⁴ Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

⁵ Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.

⁶ And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.”

⁷ So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.

⁸ David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. ⁹ And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’?

¹⁰ Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’

¹¹ Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.

¹² Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.


David was an honorable man and he refused to kill Saul even though he had many opportunities.  You will never find a place in the scriptures when David speaks evil of Saul to someone else.  Even after Saul had been killed, David did NOT rejoice!!!


2 Samuel 1:5-16 (NKJV)

⁵ So David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?”

⁶ Then the young man who told him said, “As I happened by chance to be on Mount Gilboa, there was Saul, leaning on his spear; and indeed the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. ⁷ Now when he looked behind him, he saw me and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ ⁸ And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ So I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’

⁹ He said to me again, ‘Please stand over me and kill me, for anguish has come upon me, but my life still remains in me.’ ¹⁰ So I stood over him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them here to my lord.”
¹¹ Therefore David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. ¹² And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son, for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
¹³ Then David said to the young man who told him, “Where are you from?”
And he answered, “I am the son of an alien, an Amalekite.”

¹⁴ So David said to him, “How was it you were not afraid to put forth your hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?” ¹⁵ Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go near, and execute him!” And he struck him so that he died. ¹⁶ So David said to him, “Your blood is on your own head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord’s anointed.’”


Instead of coming against Saul as most people would have, David left Israel and did NOT return until GOD told him to come back.  David returned so that he could be anointed King of Judah. 


2 Samuel 2:1-4 (NKJV)

¹ It happened after this that David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?”

And the Lord said to him, “Go up.”
David said, “Where shall I go up?”
And He said, “To Hebron.”
² So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. ³ And David brought up the men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
⁴ Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.


David honored and spoke well of Saul even after his death and burial.


2 Samuel 2:1-4, con’t. (NKJV)

…And they told David, saying, “The men of Jabesh Gilead were the ones who buried Saul.”

⁵ So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “You are blessed of the Lord, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him. ⁶ And now may the Lord show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing. ⁷ Now therefore, let your hands be strengthened, and be valiant; for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”


I wonder how many of us are as honorable as David?  I wonder if we would be as merciful to our enemy as David was or if we would destroy him or her, if GOD gave us the opportunity. 


It is so easy to run a person down, and tell ALL the bad things we know.  Instead, we need to pray for that person and ask God to direct our steps, so that HE can show us what to do. 


If each and every one of us would pray for God’s guidance, and truly listen to what HE tells us and follow HIM, I would NOT be writing this post today. 


However, GOD gave us FREE WILL, and we often choose to go down our own path rather than to enquire of GOD!!!  And choosing our own path instead of seeking GOD’S WILL, always leads to trouble.  God wants HIS children to be merciful to others and we will never succeed when we come against another person.  


Have you ever read about Korah and how he and his followers came against Moses, GOD’S ANOINTED MAN?  Do you know what GOD happened to these men? 


Numbers 16:1-2 (NCV)

¹ Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and On turned against Moses. (Korah was the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi; Dathan and Abiram were brothers, the sons of Eliab; and On was the son of Peleth; Dathan, Abiram, and On were from the tribe of Reuben.)

² These men gathered two hundred fifty other Israelite men, well-known leaders chosen by the community, and challenged Moses.


These men NOT only came against Moses, but they also came against Aaron, the priest. 


Numbers 16:3-11 (NKJV)

³ They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?”

⁴ So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face; ⁵ and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him.

⁶ Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company; ⁷ put fire in them and put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom the Lord chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!”
⁸ Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi: ⁹ Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; ¹⁰ and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also?

¹¹ Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord. And what is Aaron that you complain against him?”


You cannot come against GOD and succeed.  GOD will defend those who are HIS every time!!!


Numbers 16:16-18 (NKJV)
¹⁶ And Moses said to Korah, “Tomorrow, you and all your company be present before the Lord—you and they, as well as Aaron. ¹⁷ Let each take his censer and put incense in it, and each of you bring his censer before the Lord, two hundred and fifty censers; both you and Aaron, each with his censer.”

¹⁸ So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with Moses and Aaron.


In ALL honesty, we should never come against anyone, because we will reap what we sow.  It is foolish to think that we will escape unscathed when coming against GOD’S ANOINTED!!! 


Numbers 16:19-21 (NKJV)

¹⁹ And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation.

²⁰ And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ²¹ “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.”


Moses and Aaron were truly wise and merciful Men of GOD.  And as we can see, they loved God’s people as TRUE leaders should. 


Numbers 16:22-35 (NKJV)

²² Then they fell on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and You be angry with all the congregation?”
²³ So the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ²⁴ “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’”
²⁵ Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. ²⁶ And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.” ²⁷ So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children.
²⁸ And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. ²⁹ If these men die naturally like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. ³⁰ But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord.”

³¹ Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, ³² and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. ³³ So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.

³⁴ Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!”
³⁵ And a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.


God showed me the passage above.  HE had me read about Korah and the men that came against Moses and Aaron.  HE had me read about the people in the congregation and how they didn’t learn from what happened to Korah and the men that came against Moses and Aaron. 


Numbers 16:36-40 (NKJV)

³⁶ Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ³⁷ “Tell Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, to pick up the censers out of the blaze, for they are holy, and scatter the fire some distance away. ³⁸ The censers of these men who sinned against their own souls, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar. Because they presented them before the Lord, therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel.”

³⁹ So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned up had presented, and they were hammered out as a covering on the altar, ⁴⁰ to be a memorial to the children of Israel that no outsider, who is not a descendant of Aaron, should come near to offer incense before the Lord, that he might not become like Korah and his companions, just as the Lord had said to him through Moses.


Some people are so deceived and so evil minded that they refuse to learn by example.  They are hardheaded and they refuse to listen to GOD and see what HE is trying to show them.  And they refuse to obey those that GOD has appointed as leaders over them.  Unfortunately and sadly, these folks seem to have to learn the hard way. 


Numbers 16:41-43 (NKJV)

⁴¹ On the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the Lord.”

⁴² Now it happened, when the congregation had gathered against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tabernacle of meeting; and suddenly the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared. ⁴³ Then Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of meeting.



As I read about this congregation of people and how they continued to come against GOD and those called to do HIS service, it was hard for me to understand why they has no respect for those that GOD had placed over them.  I truly do NOT understand, except to say that they were greatly deceived.   


As I read, I also saw how much Moses and Aaron must have loved the children of Israel and how they continued to try to save them by interceding for them time after time and pleading with the LORD to be merciful.  This is what true leaders do. 


Numbers 16:44-50 (NKJV)


⁴⁴ And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ⁴⁵ “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.”
And they fell on their faces.
⁴⁶ So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the Lord. The plague has begun.”

⁴⁷ Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. ⁴⁸ And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.

⁴⁹ Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the Korah incident.

⁵⁰ So Aaron returned to Moses at the door of the tabernacle of meeting, for the plague had stopped.

THE LORD touched my heart and impressed upon me how very important it is that we know and teach that no one should EVER, EVER think that it is okay to come against HIS PEOPLE; HIS ANOINTED ONES!!! 


Psalm 105:12-15 (ESV)

¹² When they were few in number,
    of little account, and sojourners in it,
¹³ wandering from nation to nation,
    from one kingdom to another people,
¹⁴ he allowed no one to oppress them;
    he rebuked kings on their account,
¹⁵ saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
    do my prophets no harm!”

God was with David wherever he went!!!

I love to read about the saints in the Old Testament. 


And King David is my favorite!!!  I love to read about David and how God blessed him and showed him favor in ALL that he did.   


David found favor with the LORD.  God called David, “A man after MY OWN HEART.”


Acts 13:22 (NKJV) …He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’


And God was with David wherever he went.  No matter where David went or what David did, THE LORD was there with him.  


2 Samuel 7:8-9 (NKJV)

⁸ Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.

⁹ And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth.



Reading about David inspires and encourages me.  You see, I know that if God will do it for David, HE WILL IT FOR ME!!!


I want to know that GOD is with me no matter where I go and no matter what I do!!!  I want HIM to be with me ALWAYS!!!


And I know that HE WILL because I trust in HIM!!! 


Twice in the same chapter, THE WORD OF GOD tells us that THE LORD PRESERVED David wherever David went. 


2 Samuel 8:6, 14 (NKJV)

⁶ …So the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

¹⁴ …And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.


PRESERVED means to be watched over.    


Dictionary.com says preserve means to keep safe from harm or injury; protect or spare.


As I was writing, these words came to me, “Well kept!!!” 


When God is watching over you, you can be assured that you will be WELL KEPT!!!


I know that just as God preserved David, HE WILL PRESERVE ME!!!  I know that GOD watches over me wherever I go. 


David was NOT ONLY called by GOD, but HE was chosen to rule over Israel by THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!!!  David was called and chosen to do THE LORD’S WILL!!!    


And just as THE LORD had promised, HE established David as King over Israel.  THE LORD gave David victory over ALL his enemies, and HE gave him PEACE and REST!!!  


2 Samuel 7:1-2 (NKJV)

7 Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies all around, ² that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.”


THE LORD had done so much for David and HE had blessed David so much that David wanted to honor HIM.  David wanted to build GOD a house.   


2 Samuel 7:3-7 (NKJV)

³ Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.”

⁴ But it happened that night that the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying, ⁵ “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? ⁶ For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt, even to this day, but have moved about in a tent and in a tabernacle. 

⁷ Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’


GOD saw David’s Heart and HE knew how much David loved HIM.  And because GOD loved David so much, HE made a covenant with David. 


Who would have thought that GOD would take a young shepherd boy and make him King over Israel!!! 


2 Samuel 7:8-15 (NKJV)

⁸ Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. ⁹ And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 

 ¹⁰ Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, ¹¹ since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house.

¹² “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. ¹⁵ But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.


Who would have thought that GOD would LOVE this man so much that HE would bring HIS ONLY JESUS CHRIST through Mary who was one of David descendants!!!  So, that David’s seed would indeed live forever!!!


2 Samuel 7:16-17 (NKJV)

¹⁶ And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.”’”
¹⁷ According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.


And I am sure that David never thought that Paul, a disciple of Christ would one day stand up in the synagogue and reminded the men of Israel of how GOD had chosen him to be KING over Israel.  I bet that David could NOT have imagined how God would choose to fulfill ALL HIS PROMISES to him!!!    


Acts 13:16-22 (NKJV)
¹⁶ Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: ¹⁷ The God of this people Israel^[b] chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. ¹⁸ Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. ¹⁹ And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.
²⁰ “After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. ²¹ And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

²² And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’

²³ From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus

Great God Almighty, HE Done Changed Me!!!

Have you heard MercyMe’s new song, SHAKE?

If NOT, just click on the title of this post.  I have linked the official video and it is really great.  I hope you will enjoy it!!

I first heard part of this song one day on my way home.  I had stopped and when I got back in the truck, it was playing on the radio.  The only words that I remembered are the ones below.    

Great God Almighty done changed me
Great God Almighty, He done changed me

So, I googled them and I found the song, and of course, several videos.  If you have read my previous post, then you have probably already seen a couple of the videos that I found. 

This song isn’t just a really good song.  It’s a TRUTHFUL song!!

What do I mean?

When you get saved, you are changed.  You just can’t meet GOD without being changed!!!  There is just no way to truly get to know the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY and remain the same as you once were.


Some folks seem to take longer, but I have seen folks that are immediately and drastically changed forever.  And I do mean changed for life.     

I think in ALL truth, folks don’t really realize how broken their lives are, until they meet Jesus. 

And although I doubt that most folks would admit it, they need Jesus to heal their broken hearts and repair their broken lives. 

I know that a lot of folks will tell you that they have found THE LORD, but in ALL TRUTH, it is Jesus who finds us!  HE meets you wherever you are.  HE finds you when you need HIM the most!!! 

And when HE saves you from the mess you were in, you don’t ever want to go back.   Cause if you truly allow GOD to save you from your mess, then you do NOT want to get back into it.

YOU ARE CHANGED!!!  YOU ARE TRANSFORMED!!! 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.


And because you are a new creation in Christ Jesus, you don’t act the same.  You don’t live the same way.  You don’t hang around the same people, mostly because you have been changed and you don’t fit in with the same crowd. 


Folks ought to be able to tell that you have changed. 


Your old friends ought to be able to see that you are different, and even the folks at work ought to be able to see that you aren’t the same person you once were. 


If you act the same as you always did, then something is wrong.  Because there is no way that you can meet The Great God Almighty and NOT be changed!!!  It just can’t be done. 


When you know that JESUS loves you and that HE died so that you can be forgiven and live eternally, the whole world looks different. 


And because JESUS LOVES US, HE doesn’t condemn us or try to make us feel guilty.  HE doesn’t want us to feel ashamed or embarrassed about who we once were.  HE knows that we aren’t the person we used to be because HE HAS CHANGED OUR HEARTS!!!     


And just as the song says, it doesn’t matter how old you are, “Brand New” looks good on you. 


When people see that JESUS has changed you, they will make remarks.  They will let you know that they can see a change in you!!! 

 
Folks will admit that they can tell that you have been transformed.  They will say that they can tell that you are different.  Some will ask you what happened.

And you can tell them as this song says, GOD HAS CHANGED ME!!!  HE HAS SET ME FREE!!! 

Great God Almighty done changed me

Great God Almighty, HE done changed me

Great God Almighty done changed me

Great God Almighty, HE done changed me

SHAKE (Great God Almighty)

Wow!!! 

That was ALL I could think once I heard SHAKE by MercyMe. 

I love this song.  It makes me want to jump up and dance.

I LOVE to praise the LORD!!!  I LOVE to SING and SHOUT!!! 

And if you have been TRANSFORMED, then you ought to rejoice.  You ought to PRAISE GOD  for making you “Brand New"!!! 

Cause THE ONE and ONLY TRUE LIVING GOD, THE GREAT GOD ALMIGHTY has changed you!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you haven’t heard it or even if you have, you can click on the title of this post to see the official video. 

NOT ONLY do I love this song, but the video is really great!!! 

And of course, there are other videos, some of which you just have to see because they are so cute!!! 

There are quite a few because MercyMe has invited everyone to upload their own video of SHAKE. 

So, look for the links (the words in the orangey-brown color) in this post to view each one.  Each one you click on will take you to a different video.  And of course, there are many more on YouTube.

I just LOVE the words to SHAKE, so I have included them below!!! 

Actually, I love everything about this song!!!

SHAKE  -  MercyMe
I just can't believe

Where my life was at

All that I know was my heart was broke

And I don't ever wanna go back

Ain't no explanation

How I saw the light

He found me and HE set me free

And HE brought me back to life

Blame it on the transformation

Changed down to the core

This love is real and I can't sit still

Cuz my name's not shame no more, more, more

Great God Almighty done changed me

Great God Almighty, HE done changed me

You’ve got to shake, shake, shake

Like you're changed, changed, changed

Brand new looks so good on you

So shake like you've been changed

Come on and shake, shake

Shake like you've been changed

Shake, shake, shake like you’re changed

Maybe HE came to you

When everything seemed fine

Or maybe your world was upside down

It hit you right between the eyes

No matter when it happened

At 7 or 95

Move your feet cuz you are free

And you never been more alive

You’ve got to shake, shake, shake

Like you're changed, changed, changed

Brand new looks so good on you

So shake like you've been changed

Come on and shake, shake, shake

Like you’re changed, changed, changed

Brand new looks so good on you

So shake like you've been changed

Come on and shake, shake

Shake like you're changed

Shake, shake, shake like you're changed

Shake                         …Shake

Great God Almighty done changed me

Great God Almighty, HE done changed me

Great God Almighty done changed me

Great God Almighty, HE done changed me

No matter when it happened

At 7 or 95

Move your feet cuz you are free

And you've never been more alive

You’ve got to shake, shake, shake

Like you're changed, changed, changed

Brand new looks so good on you

So shake like you've been changed

Come on and shake, shake, shake

Like you’re changed, changed, changed

Brand new looks so good on you

So shake like you've been changed

Come on and shake, shake

Shake like you've been changed

Shake, shake, shake like you’re changed

Shake                         …Shake

Great God Almighty done changed me

Great God Almighty, He done changed me

HE IS MY STRENGTH IN TIME OF TROUBLE!!!

This morning when I got up, I knew that I had a post to finish, but even so, I wanted to read something in my Bible, something different, something new.

I say this ALL the time, but it is true!!!  Every day that I am faithful to seek GOD, HE speaks to me!!! 

Sometimes HE just whispers in my ear.  And at other times, HE reveals HIS WORD to me!!!

Many times the passages of scripture that HE shows me are “NEW” to me, but sometimes, GOD reminds me of what HIS WORD says.  And at other times, GOD has me read the same verse or chapter again, but HE shows me something I have NEVER noticed before.  Then there are times that HE gives me a whole new view of what HE is saying in a familiar passage of scripture.   

Whenever GOD speaks to me, HE touches my soul!!!  HE NOT ONLY delights me, but HE strengthens and energizes me.  HE refreshes me!!! 

As some might say, HE RECHARGES MY BATTERY!!!   

So, today when I opened my Bible, I read these verses and they strengthened me.

Psalm 37:39-40 (KJV)

³⁹ But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

⁴⁰ And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.


So, let’s take a moment to look at these 2 verses. 

Psalm 37:39 (KJV) But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord…

Salvation is of THE LORD!!!  JESUS died so that we might be saved!!!  And HE is the ONLY way to GOD!!!  And HE is the ONLY way to be saved!!!  HE IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS and OUR SALVATION!!!  Without HIM no man can be saved!!!


Psalm 37:39 (NKJV) …He is their strength in the time of trouble.

Jesus has made me to be righteous because HE paid the price for my sins!!!  And when trouble comes, I lean upon HIM and HE strengthens me!!!  HE is MY ONLY STRENGTH!!!  Without HIM, I am weak. 


Psalm 37:40 (NKJV) And the Lord shall help them and deliver them;

GOD SHALL HELP AND DELIVER ME!!!!  No matter what the circumstance or situation, GOD SHALL MAKE A WAY FOR ME!!!


Psalm 37:40 (NKJV) …He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,…


GOD SHALL deliver me from those wicked people that plan evil against me. HE sees the evil that has been planned, but HE will make a way for me!!!  HE SHALL save me and keep me from ALL harm!!! 


Psalm 37:40 (NKJV) …Because they trust in Him.


GOD promises me to do ALL these things because I trust in HIM!!!  And because I place my TRUST in HIM, HE takes care of me!!!

I CHOOSE TO TRUST GOD!!!  I CHOOSE not to worry when trouble comes my way because I KNOW THE GOD THAT I SERVE!!! 


I CHOOSE TO KNOW THAT I CAN DEPEND ON HIM!!! 

HE IS MY STRENGTH IN TIME OF TROUBLE!!!

GOD Will Direct Your Paths!!!

David relied on GOD for direction and GOD always came through for him. 


2 Samuel 5:17-20 (NCV)

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been made king over Israel, all the Philistines went to look for him. But when David heard the news, he went down to the stronghold. ¹⁸ The Philistines came and camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

¹⁹ David asked the Lord, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
The Lord said to David, “Go! I will certainly hand them over to you.”
²⁰ So David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines there. David said, “Like a flood of water, the Lord has broken through my enemies in front of me.” So David named the place Baal Perazim.

GOD will show you exactly what to do if you seek HIM and depend on HIM!!!!  GOD told David how to defeat the Philistines and HE will tell us what to do to win the battles in our lives.


1 Chronicles 14:13-17 (NKJV)

¹³ Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. ¹⁴ Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.

¹⁵ And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

¹⁶ So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer. ¹⁷ Then the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.


Sometimes, God will direct you to take a detour from the path that you had planned. 


Early one morning after I had finished watering the plants at the house that I was taking care of, I got in my truck to leave.  I turned out of the driveway to go through town and God told me NOT to go that way.  I was sleepy and I wasn’t thinking clearly.  Instead of listening to God and driving around the block to go back the other direction, I went ahead and went the way that I had started out. 


It is always a big mistake to ignore what God is telling you!!!  We should always ask God about our plans and be ready to change them, if needed. 


A few minutes later, I got stopped by a police officer who said that I had run a stop sign and was given a ticket.  This was a ticket that I could have avoided by listening to GOD and following HIS instructions. 


We often cause ourselves a lot of trouble by NOT seeking GOD and doing what HE tells us. 


1 Chronicles 13:1-4, 7-14 (NKJV)

13 Then David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. ² And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the Lord our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; ³ and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.”

⁴ Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

⁷ So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. ⁸ Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.


⁹ And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. ¹⁰ Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. ¹¹ And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called Perez Uzza to this day. ¹² David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”

¹³ So David would not move the ark with him into the City of David, but took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
¹⁴ The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.


At other times, GOD will close the door that you thought you were going to go through.  This happened to David when he was serving King Achish in the land of the Philistines. 


1 Samuel 29 (NKJV)

29 Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel. ² And the lords of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish. ³ Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”

And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years? And to this day I have found no fault in him since he defected to me.”

⁴ But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; so the princes of the Philistines said to him, “Make this fellow return, that he may go back to the place which you have appointed for him, and do not let him go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become our adversary. For with what could he reconcile himself to his master, if not with the heads of these men?


⁵ Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying:

‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?” 

⁶ Then Achish called David and said to him, “Surely, as the Lord lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight. For to this day I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you. ⁷ Therefore return now, and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.”

⁸ So David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And to this day what have you found in your servant as long as I have been with you, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

⁹ Then Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’


¹⁰ Now therefore, rise early in the morning with your master’s servants who have come with you. And as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, depart.”


¹¹ So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

We may NOT always understand what GOD is doing, but HE will show us, if we continue to trust HIM!!! 


1 Samuel 30:1-19 (NKJV)

30 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, ² and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. ³ So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.

⁴ Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. ⁵ And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. ⁶ Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

⁷ Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. ⁸ So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”

And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”

⁹ So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind.

¹⁰ But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.

¹¹ Then they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he ate, and they let him drink water. ¹² And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. So when he had eaten, his strength came back to him; for he had eaten no bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights. ¹³ Then David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?”

And he said, “I am a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind, because three days ago I fell sick. ¹⁴ We made an invasion of the southern area of the Cherethites, in the territory which belongs to Judah, and of the southern area of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.”

¹⁵ And David said to him, “Can you take me down to this troop?”

So he said, “Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this troop.”

¹⁶ And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

¹⁷ Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.

¹⁸ So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives.

¹⁹ And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.


What would have happened if God had NOT closed this door for David? 


What would have happened if Achish had NOT sent David and his men home? 


Did you notice that David and his men got home just in time to chase after the Amalekites?  They got home just in time to rescue their wives and children.  NOW, isn’t that just like GOD???


David followed earnestly after GOD and GOD directed his paths.   
God took David, a shepherd boy, from his father’s pastures and he became a mighty man of valor.  And as GOD had promised, he became the King of Israel.  David is the most famous King to ever live and he is part of the lineage of Christ.  People are still talking about David today.      

GOD showed David the way HE should go and HE WILL DO IT FOR YOU, TOO!!!

I Am… Holding on to You…

When I wrote “Looking for the Good,” I talked about how GOD revealed to me that HE is working in the midst of our storms. 


As I told you in that post, we have to hold on and have faith that GOD is indeed working when storms are raging in our lives.  We have to hold on to JESUS in faith!!!  We have to know that HE is making a way for us!!!


When I heard, “I Am,” it touched my heart!!!


David Crowder was definitely inspired by God when he wrote this song about “holding on.” 


If you look below, you will find a copy of the lyrics of this song. 


And if you click on the title of this post, it will take you to a music video of this song!!! 


I am hoping that you will enjoy this song as much as I do!!!
 

"I Am"   --   David Crowder
There’s no space that His love can’t reach.
There’s no place where we can’t find peace.
There’s no end to Amazing Grace.

Take me in with your arms spread wide.
Take me in like an orphan child.
Never let go. Never leave my side.

I am…  Holding onto You.
I am…  Holding onto You.
In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.
I am!

Love like this, Oh my God to find.
I am overwhelmed. What a joy divine.
Love like this sets our hearts on fire.

I am…  Holding onto You.
I am…  Holding onto You.
In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.
I am!

I am…  Holding onto You.
I am…  Holding onto You.
In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.
I am!

This is my Resurrection Song.
This is my Hallelujah come.
This is why it’s to You I run.

There’s no space that His love can’t reach.
There’s no place where we can’t find peace.
There’s no end to Amazing Grace.

I am…  Holding onto You.
I am…  Holding onto You.
In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.

I am…  Holding onto You.
I am…  Holding onto You.
In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.

I am…  Holding onto You.
I am…  Holding onto You.
In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.
I am!

I am…
In the middle of the storm, I am Holding on
I am!

You Get What You Expect!!!

It’s true, you know.


You get what you expect.


What do I mean?


I mean that what you expect to happen to you is what is going to happen to you.  If you believe it and expect it, it will happen.    


Do you know why???


Because you NOT ONLY expect it, you believe it, you think about it and you talk about it.


So, you should expect good things, and NOT bad things.


Oral Roberts used to say, “Something good is going to happen to you today!!!” 


We all need to do as Oral did and expect good things to happen to us. 


When you expect good things, good things will happen.  And unfortunately, when you expect bad things, bad things will happen.  It is the same principle.


Those things that you look for, and believe for and talk expectantly in faith about are the things that happen.


How do I know that?  Because God says so in HIS WORD!


Mark 11:22-23 (NCV)

²² Jesus answered, “Have faith in God. ²³ I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, fall into the sea.’ And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, God will do it for you.


When I was first writing this post, I had one of those moments when my train of thought seemed to go and I didn’t know what else to write or where to go with it.  So, I just stopped writing.  I felt like I had gotten off course.


That night when I went to bed, I lay there and God said that He gives us the things that we ask for in FAITH because HE is exceeding abundantly able to do more than we could ever ask or think. 


Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that  works in us.


I love this scripture.  God says that HE can do so much more than we can even ask or think.  When I looked up Ephesians 3:20, I found that one version says that HE can do more than we can even dare to imagine!!!   


EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY above all that we ask, think, or imagine. 


Now that says it ALL!!! 


Most of us have a mental list of the things that we want, but let’s be real, some of these things are things that we never talk about!!!  They are things that we ONLY think about in the secret places of our mind-things we would never discuss with anyone else.


Maybe it is because we feel that we can’t afford them or we feel that we really don’t need them, so we don’t really ever expect to get or have these things.


I wonder how many times we have things in the back of our mind that we would really like to have, but we believe in our hearts that we will have to wait until “our ship comes in.” 


God says that we have NOT because we ask NOT.


James 4:2 (NCV) …You do not get what you want, because you do not ask God.

And once we ask God for what we want, we have to wait patiently in faith expecting to receive what we have asked of HIM.  We watch and wait patiently knowing and believing that because we have asked our Father, we will get what we asked.


Mark 11:24 (NCV) So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you.


I know at times that we think of the things that we would like to have as luxuries-as things that are less important than our everyday needs. 


Maybe what you would actually like to have is a recliner, but you think, Oh  well, that couch that I have is just fine and I don’t actually need a recliner.  But God knows how much you really would like to have that recliner. 


God sees our hearts. 


Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.


And HE knows more than we do what we need and what would please us and delight us because HE knows our inner most thoughts and desires!!!


Psalm 37:4 (AMP) Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.

I had wanted a laptop for a long time and I knew that I would EVENTUALLY get one, but what I didn’t know was how much I really needed one.  However, my heavenly Father knew exactly what I needed and when I would need it the most.


And suddenly, very unexpectedly, my folks decided that they would buy me a laptop.  They told me to find the one that I wanted and order it.  They said they would pay for it. 


I was so excited.  I had waited so long and I felt so blessed!!!  I knew it was God who had inspired them to buy me a laptop. 


So, I asked the LORD, why HE had done this for me, and HE said, I KNEW YOU WOULD LIKE IT!!! 


You know, that is just how our Father is.  HE LOVES US AND WANTS GOOD THINGS FOR US.  HE WANTS TO BLESS US!!! 


It says in the WORD, that Father God loves us just like our natural fathers do and that HE wants good things for us, just like they do.    


Matthew 7:9-11 (CEB)

⁹ Who among you will give your children a stone when they ask for bread? ¹⁰ Or give them a snake when they ask for fish? ¹¹ If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him.


And when I was hunting for just the right laptop, and I asked HIM what to look for HE reminded me of the things that I had wanted in a new computer.  And so, when I began looking at laptops, I found one on sale that had just the processor that I had wished for NOT TOO LONG BEFORE!!!  And it had all the features that I had told the LORD that I wanted.     


HE was with me the whole way.  HE never left me to figure it out on my own. 


John 14:17 (NKJV) the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.


Sometimes it seems like that what we are expecting is delayed, but we can’t give up!!!  We have to keep expecting good things to happen to us!!!  We have to still believe in GOD and know that HE is at work!!! 


Daniel 9:23 (NCV) When you first started praying, an answer was given, and I came to tell you, because God loves you very much…