Introduction
We read hundreds of stories about God’s people. Men and women of God who goes boldly. Empowered by the Holy Spirit. If they walk into the room, you can feel the shift in the air. There is something different about them. They can endure the power of hell and remain standing. In every situation they can bring the power of heaven to bear. But that’s not the way we feel in our daily lives. More often today we harbor a spirit of timidity. We slink around shy and afraid. We want to apologize for God more than we are empowered by Him. Where is the disconnect? How have we lost the authority God has given us? How do we go boldly and claim ground for the kingdom of God?
The Lion Of Judah
God is the creator and maintainer of everything. The Israelites called God the Lion of Judah. The fearsome Lion, protector of His people and their ultimate king. Everything good and worthy flows from Him. He reigns justly over everyone. Everything God’s people did, was for His glory. And He empowered, led and equipped them.
“11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.”
– 1 Chronicles 29: 11-12 (NIV)
The Israelites knew that God was in control. They followed a God that lead them through incredibly difficult times. Until they came to the amazing promises God gave them. Moses could stand up to a tyrant king, because he knew that his king was bigger. David defended the name of God, against a giant, with a single stone. Because he knew his power came from the one he was following.
God is still the same. We still have God’s proclamation over our lives. So why does our confidence in God waver so easily today. Maybe because instead of following God, we want to lead Him.
Domesticated or Reigning
We have God’s providence and promises, but it only becomes ours through sacrifice. Like Jesus sacrificed everything for us, so too our lives needs to be a sacrifice to Him. But people are reluctant to give up their own plans. People don’t want to be lead by a lion. Better to try and leach Him and make Him a domesticated kitten.
“Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…”Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
– C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
C.S. Lewis describes our reluctance to give ourselves over to God completely, in the weight of glory. We might fear that giving ourselves to God completely, would make us lose the qualities that make us up. Your uniqueness. For if you add a finite person to an infinite God, what chance would he have of not being overtaken completely. This is a fair point, for if someone were to taste salt for the first time, would he not conclude that adding it to a dish would completely overpower the taste. But that is not what happens. Salt brings out the true taste in a dish. So too, adding God to our lives brings out who we really are. Our full potential is only realized in relation to God.
If you try to leach the Lion of Judah, and lead Him around. If you keep holding God to your expectations instead of following Him wholeheartedly. Then you only limit your own potential in fulfilling your calling. We can only win ground in the kingdom of God, while He is working through us. If you try to limit God’s influence in your life, you will limit the authority of God working through you.
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
– C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
If we try to limit the effect God has in our lives, that half-hearted part of us is the part that tries to cling to sin. To temporary and corrupted happiness. When we have an offer of infinite joy. If you think the dish is tasty now, wait till you add salt. In God we can have the true fulfilment of all our desires, as it was meant to be. That’s why C.S. Lewis said our desires aren’t too strong, but not strong enough. Don’t cling to the tiny part of yourself that will lead to death. But give yourself to God fully. That He can redeem the whole of you. That He can fulfil His promises. That His confidence could work through you powerfully.
If we leach the lion of Judah, we limit the effect He can have on our lives, if we follow Him, there is no limit to where He will lead us.
Authority In Our Lives
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.”
– 1 Timothy 1: 12 (NIV)
We are in the service of the Lion of Judah. He has redeemed and equipped us, so that we can follow His plan for our lives. Now from His throne room, He is sending you to accomplish heavenly goals. Not in your own strength, but in His strength working through you. Not in your authority, but in His. He has given us the authority to claim ground for Him. To fight for and follow Him. His authority works through us.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”
– Matthew 18: 18- 19 (NIV)
How do we allow His authority to work through us? How do we increase our confidence in Him? By drawing close to Him. By listening to Him. And by following where He leads. In the bible, God makes promises to His people. He leads them to the promised land. He leads Moses to stand up to a king, even when he was afraid to speak. But even when they are afraid, they hold to His promises, and He works through them.
If you want to increase your confidence in God, you need to hold on to His promises. Read the bible. Listen to what God is telling you. Affirm God’s promises in prayer. Then you will know God more deeply. You will trust Him more fully. And He will work in you and through you more powerfully. Chris Tomlin put it this way.
“I will rest in your promises
My confidence is your faithfulness
Faithful, you are
Faithful forever you will be
Faithful, you are, yes you are
All your promises are yes and Amen ”
– Yes And Amen, Chris Tomlin
Conclusion
Draw closer to God. Read His word. Pray. Get to know God and follow Him. Give Him ultimate authority in your life. And He will redeem you. He will equip you. Rest in His promises, and you can weather any storm. Follow Him, and His authority and confidence will work though you. That you could bring heaven down, to bear on anything God is sending you to do. Then you will know true fulfilment and joy. As you live out your calling from the King. So walk with your shoulders squared and your head held high. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1: 7 (NIV)
John
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Amen God thank you for your promises lead us where ever we go and what we out to say. Lord we wait patiently for You 🙏
This was a fantastic post!
Affirm, affirm affirm. We still worship a God of promises! We must rest in this promises!
Thank you for this post. Xx