The Spiritual and the Practical
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The Spiritual and the Practical
fennywest Fri 21 Sep 2012, 3:04 am
In the life of the Christian there has to be the Spiritual and the practical for victory. That is the picture we see in the war between Israel and Amalek. (Exodus 17:8-9).
The battle was fierce but Moses removed not just himself and stood on a hill and lifted up his hands to heaven, but at a later stage when he got tired, Aaron and Hur were deployed on the hill to lift up Moses’ hand. Why?
This was because as long as Moses’ hands were lifted up Joshua was winning the battle but as soon as he got tired and lowered his hands, the enemy prevailed. He understood that if the battle is to be won, it would be won by the application of the practical and the spiritual. Joshua has to fight below whilst he gave them the spiritual backup.
It would have been wrong if they all packed up and went up the hill to raise their hands like Moses. But it would also have been wrong if they all fought down below and ignored the need to acknowledge the sovereignty and power of God in what they were doing below.
So what is the challenge that you face today? You will be foolish if you lock yourself up in a room and pray only. You would have done the spiritual without the practical. Similarly, it would be work half done if you ignore prayer and concentrate on running here and there, doing this and that. That would not give you victory either.
The practical must go hand in hand, in tandem with the spiritual. This cannot be overemphasized. Often we are so spiritual that we are of no earthly use or so practical that we are of no spiritual use. The two must go hand in hand.
King Jehoshaphat and Judah were surrounded by their enemies and outnumbered over 100: Their enemies were like the sand of the sea. Three powerful nations had formed a formidable confederacy to wipe them off the face of the map.
The King who was one of the few King who were loyal to God, quaked in his boots initially. Why was this happening in spite of his dedication? Some people must have snipped at him for taking his religion too far and thus bringing the attention of the enemy on them.
He was however wise not to just jump into the battle field like that. He plucked up courage and sought the face of God. After praying a prayer of worship, asking power rhetorical questions and reminding God of His friend Abraham and His promises.
He concluded the payer with: ‘We do not know what to do but our eyes are on you.’
God responded immediately in a prophecy: ‘Listen, Judah, and you King Jehoshaphat, in particular. Be not afraid in account of this great armada of enemies surrounding you. The battle is not yours but the Lord’s. You will not have to fight this battle.
‘Tomorrow go out against them.’
They had done the spiritual but it was not enough. God said they would not have to fight yet He told them to go out against their enemies. It sounds like a contradiction in terms. But the spiritual has to go hand in hand with the practical, though this time unlike before there would not be a physical fighting. Nevertheless they had to go out against them. Only it was a different strategy: they were to sing in the face of the Battle. And as they begin to sing a covenant song:
The practical must go with the spiritual for an unquestionable victory.
The same scenario is repeated with Gideon and his 300. The Lord was not interested in large numbers. He can save with few or many. He only wanted men of faith; men who were disciplined, dedicated, and devoted.
However they would hold a trumpet and a pot carrying a light in the face of the Midianites who were like locust- over 100,000. And all they need to do was to blow the trumpet when they heard the declaration: 'The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!' ". Notice it is 'The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!' "– the practical and the supernatural. They went against the enemy but they did not use carnal weapons.
The breaking of the pitcher, letting the light shine and the shout paint a power picture and teach us a great lesson that when you humble yourself before the Lord; when you are broken, and let your light shine and proclaim the word of God, His promises that are yes and Amen in Christ, victory shall be yours.
( Judges 6 and 7)
We see a similar scenario when Israel faced Jericho. Jericho was well walled, incredibly formidable impenetrable city. Its pride and strength was its walls and it was the first city that the Israelites had to conquer.
God gave them a strategy emphasizing the spiritual and the practical again.
They were to go to the outskirts of the city and march round it, once every day for six days and in total silence. But on the seventh day they were to march round it seven times and then shout: the Lord has given you the city. (Joshua6)
What a ridiculous instruction! Going there was the practical and following that with marching round the city as prescribed was the spiritual. If they had ignored any part of the practical or the spiritual they would not have had the victory.
So what is the Lord telling you about your particular situation?
Remember He said,
Recognise the spiritual and the practical and do it and you too will have your victory.
©Fenny West2012
http://inspiration4generations.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/olympic-series-the-race-of-grace-1-preparation/
Ex17:9-11"Choose us some 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."
10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
The battle was fierce but Moses removed not just himself and stood on a hill and lifted up his hands to heaven, but at a later stage when he got tired, Aaron and Hur were deployed on the hill to lift up Moses’ hand. Why?
This was because as long as Moses’ hands were lifted up Joshua was winning the battle but as soon as he got tired and lowered his hands, the enemy prevailed. He understood that if the battle is to be won, it would be won by the application of the practical and the spiritual. Joshua has to fight below whilst he gave them the spiritual backup.
(Zech 4:6)It is not by might nor by power but by My Spirit.
It would have been wrong if they all packed up and went up the hill to raise their hands like Moses. But it would also have been wrong if they all fought down below and ignored the need to acknowledge the sovereignty and power of God in what they were doing below.
So what is the challenge that you face today? You will be foolish if you lock yourself up in a room and pray only. You would have done the spiritual without the practical. Similarly, it would be work half done if you ignore prayer and concentrate on running here and there, doing this and that. That would not give you victory either.
The practical must go hand in hand, in tandem with the spiritual. This cannot be overemphasized. Often we are so spiritual that we are of no earthly use or so practical that we are of no spiritual use. The two must go hand in hand.
King Jehoshaphat and Judah were surrounded by their enemies and outnumbered over 100: Their enemies were like the sand of the sea. Three powerful nations had formed a formidable confederacy to wipe them off the face of the map.
The King who was one of the few King who were loyal to God, quaked in his boots initially. Why was this happening in spite of his dedication? Some people must have snipped at him for taking his religion too far and thus bringing the attention of the enemy on them.
He was however wise not to just jump into the battle field like that. He plucked up courage and sought the face of God. After praying a prayer of worship, asking power rhetorical questions and reminding God of His friend Abraham and His promises.
He concluded the payer with: ‘We do not know what to do but our eyes are on you.’
God responded immediately in a prophecy: ‘Listen, Judah, and you King Jehoshaphat, in particular. Be not afraid in account of this great armada of enemies surrounding you. The battle is not yours but the Lord’s. You will not have to fight this battle.
‘Tomorrow go out against them.’
They had done the spiritual but it was not enough. God said they would not have to fight yet He told them to go out against their enemies. It sounds like a contradiction in terms. But the spiritual has to go hand in hand with the practical, though this time unlike before there would not be a physical fighting. Nevertheless they had to go out against them. Only it was a different strategy: they were to sing in the face of the Battle. And as they begin to sing a covenant song:
As they did the ridiculous, God did the miraculous. ( 2Chro20)“The Lord He is good
His mercies endure forever.” Xxx
The practical must go with the spiritual for an unquestionable victory.
The same scenario is repeated with Gideon and his 300. The Lord was not interested in large numbers. He can save with few or many. He only wanted men of faith; men who were disciplined, dedicated, and devoted.
However they would hold a trumpet and a pot carrying a light in the face of the Midianites who were like locust- over 100,000. And all they need to do was to blow the trumpet when they heard the declaration: 'The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!' ". Notice it is 'The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!' "– the practical and the supernatural. They went against the enemy but they did not use carnal weapons.
2Cor10:4-5
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
The breaking of the pitcher, letting the light shine and the shout paint a power picture and teach us a great lesson that when you humble yourself before the Lord; when you are broken, and let your light shine and proclaim the word of God, His promises that are yes and Amen in Christ, victory shall be yours.
( Judges 6 and 7)
We see a similar scenario when Israel faced Jericho. Jericho was well walled, incredibly formidable impenetrable city. Its pride and strength was its walls and it was the first city that the Israelites had to conquer.
God gave them a strategy emphasizing the spiritual and the practical again.
They were to go to the outskirts of the city and march round it, once every day for six days and in total silence. But on the seventh day they were to march round it seven times and then shout: the Lord has given you the city. (Joshua6)
What a ridiculous instruction! Going there was the practical and following that with marching round the city as prescribed was the spiritual. If they had ignored any part of the practical or the spiritual they would not have had the victory.
So what is the Lord telling you about your particular situation?
Remember He said,
Heb13:8, Mal.3:6)‘I am the Lord. I change not;. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever.’ (
Recognise the spiritual and the practical and do it and you too will have your victory.
©Fenny West2012
http://inspiration4generations.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/olympic-series-the-race-of-grace-1-preparation/
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Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717) wrote powerfully about the need for an intimate relationship with Almighty God, including this: “He who has a pure heart will never cease to pray; and he who will be constant in prayer, shall know what it is to have a pure heart.”
