#33 Sound Your Trumpets

#33 Sound Your Trumpets
February 14, 2006
"When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies." (Numbers 10: 9)

Does God need to be reminded to help us and save us from our troubles? Is He sleeping or too distracted by other people's problems to remember us? Why was Israel commanded to blow the trumpets when going into battle? Didn't He know everything about His chosen people and what they were going to face? Let's take it even a step further and ask why we need to pray. The Bible tells us that our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8). Why blowthe trumpet? Why pray? I believe the answer to these two questions is the same. God wants us to acknowledge our total dependence on Him for the victory in battle and in the wars we face in our lives on a daily basis.

There is a war being fought in the heavenlies for our very lives. Satan wants to destroy our marriages. The family as we know it and as created by our Father in Heaven is under attack. He wants the souls of our children. The economic uncertainties in today's society scream to pull the bedrock of our security and finances out from under our feet. Sickness and disease are on the increase. The enemy wants us sick, broke, busted and disgusted!

The trumpets as "an ordinance forever" symbolized dependence on God. Similarly prayer, as a more articulate expression of that dependence, reminds God to bless His people. In II Chronicles 13:12-15, before the men of Judah went into battle they acknowledged, "God is with us; He is our leader." The priests blew their trumpets and the men of Judah raised their battle cry. They called God to their rescue. The Lord then routed their enemies and delivered them into their hands. Verse 18 tells us that "the men of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their fathers." They didn't go out without first acknowledging the Lord of Hosts as their leader and victorious King.

Jesus said in John 15: 5, "apart from me you can do nothing." Nothing...no thing! The battles that you face today are impossible to win in your own way and in your own strength. They are not just random events. They are an all out assault on your lives by the devil. The sicker, the more broke, the more discouraged, the more messed up your family is, the more the devil does the happy dance. He knows that if he has victory he can render you useless and ineffective for the Kingdom of God. He sets the traps and takes people captive to do his will (II Timothy 2:26). And if you choose to go it alone, God will let you. He is a gentleman and will never force Himself on you. He waits patiently for you to sound the trumpet, pray the prayer and acknowledge Him as your source, your only Source. Not your mom, not your best friend, not your bank account, not your job title. No, "the one who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ." (II Corinthians 2:14)

I believe that one of the most beautiful prayers is the desperate cry of "HELP ME JESUS!" Or just the crying out of His wonderful name, Jesus!!! Nothing fancy, nothing long or eloquent. Just the utterance of His name coming from the deep recesses of your heart, acknowledging that you can do nothing without Him. Even if His name is just a whisper because your tears make it too hard to speak.

My friend, you have a battle to fight, a war to win. And if you don't have one today, you will soon. Put down the weapons of your own intellect and self-will and pick up your trumpet. Sound the trumpet...pray the prayer... acknowledge God.Ask Him to lead. Ask Him to go before you. Tell Him that you can't do it without Him. Don't wage war as the world does. Remember that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but are mighty IN GOD for the pulling down of strongholds." (II Corinthians 10:3-4) Did you notice the IN GOD part? Not in your brains. Not in your beauty. Not in your position. Not in your bank statement. Not in your cunning and craftiness.Not in your circle of friends. Not in your good works. IN GOD!! Your victory is in Christ, your All in All. He is the Mighty Victor, the King of Kings, and the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He loved you so much that He died on the cross for you. He loves you so much that He is also ready to fight the battle for you. He is just waiting for you to call His name and let Him know that you are depending on Him and Him alone.

Donna Schultz
Savemom@aol.com

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