Giants

A Leadership Insight from Vision Multiplier International https://visionmultiplierllc.com/

I was reflecting on these scriptures this morning and the thought that we, the leaders, must know and believe that we are equipped by the Holy Spirit to overcome any giants that we will face – no matter the size and or complexity!

Giants can come in many forms during our faith journey. They can be:

  • Big or consequential decisions for us, our loved ones or our assignments
  • Bad reports related to health, family, or finances
  • Crucial conversations requiring courage in our personal and professional lives
  • Change impacting us or those we love like shifts at work, shifts in the home and shifts in the community that disrupts routines and norms

The Bible gives us a visible “physical” example of a giant who was threatening Israel from a perceived position of strength:

“Then a champion came out from the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭4‬, ‭9‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Selah

The truth is that these and ALL giants are destined to fall down; however, how we respond or react when facing them will largely determine our success or failure. 

It is true that growth and development as a leader can create many levels of discomfort and  the issues we face can be daunting – causing us to search for solutions while praying for wisdom, peace and guidance. 

The reassuring news is found in the Bible, which says:

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭14‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When we are rooted in Gods word and know his heart for us, we can reflect on how far the lord has brought us and can go forward in boldness like David despite the opinions of those around us:

” Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes the disgrace [of his taunting] from Israel? 

For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he has taunted and defied the armies of the living God?” 

Now Eliab his oldest brother heard what he said to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David and he said, “Why have you come down here? With whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption (overconfidence) and the evil of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle.” 

But David said, “What have I done now? Was it not just a [harmless] question?” Then David turned away from Eliab to someone else and asked the same question; and the people gave him the same answer as the first time.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭26‬, ‭28‬-‭30‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Selah

Because David had been walking with the Lord and had the faith that the Lord would teach him how to fight just like time past, he rose to the occasion. Scripture tells us:

 “David said to Saul, “Let no man’s courage fail because of him (Goliath). Your servant will go out and fight with this Philistine.” 

Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight him. For you are [only] a young man and he has been a warrior since his youth.” 

But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and attacked it and rescued the lamb from its mouth; and when it rose up against me, I seized it by its whiskers and struck and killed it. 

Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted and defied the armies of the living God.” 

David said, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭32‬-‭37‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Amen

In closing, each of us are facing a “giant” of some kind today as we pursued the promises of God. It is my prayer for us that we pray like David:

“Blessed be the LORD my strength, Which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; My high tower, and my deliverer; My shield, and he in whom I trust; Who subdueth my people under me.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭144‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Let us not short circuit the development process until we are prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. 

Let us find the courage to return each day with increasing faith as if our lives depended on it.  

These giants must come down and we will take the promise land in Jesus Name!

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“So Moses sent spies from the Wilderness of Paran at the command of the Lord, all of them men who were heads of the Israelites. 

Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, “Go up this way into the Negev (the South country); then go up into the hill country. 

See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many, and whether the land in which they live is good or bad, and whether the cities in which they live are [open] camps or fortifications, 

So they went up and spied out the land from the Wilderness of Zin to Rehob [a town in Lebanon], at Lebo-hamath [in the far north]. 

When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days, they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh, and brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the land’s fruit. 

They reported to Moses and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 

But the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified (walled) and very large; moreover, we saw there the descendants of Anak [people of great stature and courage]. 

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are too strong for us.””

‭‭Numbers‬ ‭13‬:‭3‬, ‭17‬-‭19‬, ‭21‬, ‭25‬-‭28‬, ‭31‬ ‭AMP‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1588/num.13.3-31.AMP

Behold, I Will Stand Before You There

I was reflecting on these scriptures and my mind began to think about war (the battles of life) and the impact that we, as leaders, have on others lives.

Despite our best intentions and precise planning, not everything works according to the plan.

The scripture reminds us that:

“…For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required; and of him to whom men entrust much, they will require and demand all the more.” Luke 12:48 AMPC

The best leaders come to realize that we need help. That is why the example of Moses is so powerful because, even “the powerful” Moses, needed help and support to lead Gods people well. Selah

Moses’ sacrifice of intercession and overwatch all day during the battle seemed impossible in his own strength. Yes, Moses was acting on divine revelation and divine direction but he realized that he needed help and an abundance of grace to complete the mission.

Leadership is hard and we leaders are often misunderstood. Our decisions have consequences and are magnified but are often misunderstood. We are responsible and accountable for achieving results while we remain committed to higher ideals while serving as caretakers of our teams, communities and families.

We must pray and earnestly seek the lord’s guidance for revelation often during the discomfort of the battle and difficult decisions.

We can always find rest and comfort in the scripture as we are reminded: “BLESSED BE the Lord, my Rock and my keen and firm Strength, Who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight– My Steadfast Love and my Fortress, my High Tower and my Deliverer, my Shield and He in Whom I trust and take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.” Psalm 144:1-2 AMPC

But after the decision is made and necessary actions are taken, we often suffer in silence with the “what if’s”. For those moments, there can be solace in the Word: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 KJV

“In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].”Ephesians 6:10 AMPC

Rest in his promise: “Behold, I will stand before you there….”

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“So Moses cried to the Lord, What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.

And the Lord said to Moses, Pass on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand the rod with which you smote the river [Nile], and go.

Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at [Mount] Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, that the people may drink.

And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. [I Cor. 10:4.]

He called the place Masson [proof] and Meribah [contention] because of the faultfinding of the Israelites and because they tempted and tried the patience of the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us or not?

Then came Amalek [descendants of Esau] and fought with Israel at Rephidim.

And Moses said to Joshua, Choose us out men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.

So Joshua did as Moses said and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the hilltop.

When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.

But Moses’ hands were heavy and grew weary. So [the other men] took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it.

Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

And Joshua mowed down and disabled Amalek and his people with the sword.

And the Lord said to Moses, Write this for a memorial in the book and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under the heavens. [I Sam. 15:2-8.]

And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord is my Banner; And he said, Because [theirs] is a hand against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

Exodus 17:4-16 AMPC