Acts America

Victory In The Face Of Defeat

“ so the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.” (Numbers 25:8B)

Moses tells us a story of a young man who stood up to darkness and won a great victory in the face of defeat. “And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel." (Numbers 25:6-8)

In the midst of ruin and iniquity Phinehas rose up from weeping and prayer to face the darkness. Because of his actions, the Lord spake unto Moses saying, “Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy." (Numbers 25:11)

Why was there a plague among the children of Israel? Why was there ruin and darkness in the midst of the congregation? What would lead Zimri to bring that Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses and all the children of Israel?

We find our answer in the first three verses of this same chapter: “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel." (Numbers 25:1-3)

Israel is found at Shittim committing whoredoms with the daughters of Moab, and sacrificing and bowing down to their gods. We find the root of the problem in Verse 1A, “And Israel abode in Shittim.” The word “abode” here means to sit down quietly, to settle in. Once again Israel is found abiding too long in the same place, until they are snared by the enemy.

A few weeks ago in our Friday night prayer service, the Lord reminded us of the great need of moving forward. I felt He spoke to my heart to share with the people to rise up in faith and move forward into areas of prayer we have never walked in.

As we read this story in Numbers, we see the failure of Israel in this very matter. Instead of progressing and moving forward, they were abiding too long in the same place. As a result, they became indifferent and insensible to their spiritual condition.

Spiritual Apathy Is The Breeding Ground of Ruin and Darkness

When they should have desired the sincere milk of the Word that they might grow and progress, they became stagnant. When they should have been stirring themselves to rise up and go forward, they became relaxed. Israel stands at the very door of the land flowing with milk and honey only to allow their hearts to fail them again. This generation has wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Over and over we see the Lord displeased with them because of their murmurings, complainings and unbelief.

God has miraculously brought them out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, into the wilderness of discipline. It was here they could have learned those valuable lessons of daily life, lessons that would have strengthened and encouraged them to go forward. It was here their lives could have been disciplined and they could have rid themselves of that “never quite satisfied spirit.”

Israel had wandered in the wilderness and now found themselves at Shittim. Shittim was in full view of the promised land. They were close enough to see the land that flowed with milk and honey. They stood at the very edge of the promises of God. When they pulled back one time too many, God judges this generation with disinheritance and death as He raises up a new generation to inherit the promised land.

How many times have I seen this very scene played out in the Body of Christ? God’s children coming ever so close to walking in the fullness of God only to be thrown back again. Christians refusing to press into the Kingdom of God until they are moved forward by the power of the Holy Spirit. People skirting the edges, flirting with sin until the enemy traps them. Individuals not taking commitments seriously, easily missing a Wednesday night prayer service, or not moving forward in their prayer lives.

I have seen too many “Christians” get that never quite satisfied spirit until they commit spiritual whoredoms. Their minds easily wander to things other than God. Their spiritual likes and dislikes begin to change. They become very unsettled, and their Christian walk is dictated by circumstances instead of their born again experience.

These “Christians” get tired of waffling back and forth, never seemingly progressing, until they sit down quietly and settle in long enough to be snared by the enemy. It is at this point they will find themselves eating with and bowing to the very thing they once detested.

As a nation, we have stood in the midst of the greatest light, only to draw back into darkness and stand at the very threshold of judgment. Christians pushing for prayer to be put back in schools when they are hard pressed to be found in prayer at the family altar or for more than just a few short minutes in the personal prayer closet. We must face the darkness in the power of fervent prayer around an old-fashioned altar until God touches our soul and gives us the victory.

What were the results of Israel not moving forward at Shittim? What did spiritual apathy produce? “And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said unto Moses, take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor.” (Numbers 25:3-5)

Beloved, God loves His children, but He will never be mocked. Spiritual whoredoms will bring spiritual death. Paul warned the church at Corinth about these very things committed by Israel in the wilderness. (1 Corinthians 10:1-11) Paul finished that discourse with these words, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest ye fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

God Will Strengthen You For the Battle Ahead

It is at this point we see a great spiritual battle ensue. We see the powers of darkness endeavor to bring total defeat to the children of God. Spiritual apathy had opened the door to wickedness, and the enemy takes full advantage. We see here one of the most open, blatant attacks of Satan upon the righteousness and holiness of God. “And behold one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.” (Numbers 25:6)

While some of the children of Israel were weeping and praying because of their sin against God, the devil uses Zimri to unashamedly bring a harlot in the sight of Moses and all those that were weeping and praying. The devil is bold with his garbage. The enemy uses Zimri to mock and discourage the children of God.

Satan will endeavor to use his Zimris in these last days. They will have no respect or regard for God’s children. They will openly flaunt their sin in the face of God and His children.

Many Zimris will bring their lust and uncommitment in the midst of the congregation. God welcomes and invites anyone to come to Him, but these Zimris will come satisfied in their sins. They will be satisfied in their rebellious state. These Zimris have no desire to hear the truth or words about commitment. You will meet them from time to time and their attitude is one that speaks of their spiritual condition as being fine. These Zimris will try to make you feel as though you are the one missing something. “Why all this church? Why all this weeping and praying? Why all this commitment? You know The Word doesn’t have to be that straight, that hard. Look at me, I’m doing fine. Don’t let that preacher fool you. I backed away, and I have more time for my family and more time to enjoy myself. Loosen up, don’t get too involved and miss out on so much of life.”

But Where Sin Abounds Grace Will Much More Abound

While Zimri is boldly flaunting in the face of God and the congregation, God will have a people who are crying out to Him. Grace will be abounding in the hearts of those who will humble themselves before God. The grace of God will give them the desire and ability to stand up to the darkness.

Notice the spiritual position of Israel when Zimri walks in. It is one of brokenness, humility and crying out. The children of God recognize their great failings and acknowledge their great need for mercy and forgiveness. Grace has given them a desire for victory in the face of defeat.

These praying men and women are beginning to obtain boldness to stand up to the darkness, instead of quietly settling down until they are overcome again. Those who are weeping before God refuse to compromise before man. These who are praying when Zimri comes in are ashamed of their sin but not of their God. From this position of weeping and praying, brokenness and humility, we see Phinehas stand up to darkness and gain victory in the face of defeat. “And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand.” (Numbers 25:7)

Phinehas rose up from among those who were crying out to God. He stood up to darkness representing a new generation that would go into the promised land and obtain the inheritance.

God is looking for men and women in these last days with a heart like that of Phinehas, one that will rise up in the face of darkness and defeat. God is looking for a people who will refuse to compromise or retreat from prayer until victory is gained.

Some of you who read this today are sitting at Shittim. You can see the fullness of God from where you are, but once again, iniquity has thrown you back. It seems like you will never have the ability to walk in the fullness of God. Zimri stands before you mocking, jeering, discouraging your every prayer. But God will strengthen you with His grace if you will only humble your heart before Him as Phinehas and the congregation did.

Phinehas means oracle, unquestioned wisdom and knowledge, a person of spiritual authority. As God finds you among the congregation, broken and crying out, He will give you the wisdom to use spiritual authority in the face of your darkness. God will strengthen you with the authority to rise up from among the congregation and win a great victory in the face of defeat. “And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.” (Numbers 25:8)

God is looking for those who will rise up and stay the plague (the plagues of the heart, the home, the church, the nation). He is looking for those who will come from a humble position of prayer and praise so to be used of God in these last days. He is looking for men and women who will thrust the enemy with prayer and faith, children of God who will come from the prayer closet and refuse to compromise with Zimri. God is looking for those who will rise up in the midst of darkness and believe Him for a great victory. He wants servants who will have a desire to move forward from Shittim and bring glory to their God in the promised land, saints of God who will be like Phinehas, “he was zealous for his God.” (Numbers 25:13B)

Phinehas was zealous for his God and it affected reconciliation for the children of Israel. “But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing. (Galatians 4:18A) It was a good thing for Phinehas to rise up in the midst of the darkness and go forward in victory.

Victory Awaits Those Who Will Arise in Faith

All through the history of God’s people, His true servants stood up in the midst of darkness to gain a great victory. Darkness has settled around the house of Eli. The glory had departed, the lamp of God had gone out, and God’s judgment was about to fall; but God had a man in Samuel who would face the darkness. Samuel answered, “Speak; for thy servant heareth.” (1 Samuel 3:10B) If you will rise up in the midst of your darkness, God will give you an ear to hear the voice of your Saviour, Jesus Christ. Your ear will once again hear those words from the heart of One who loves you, even though He knows you.

When all Israel had fled from the face of the Philistine giant, God had a man in David who would stand up to the darkness. David said, “Thy servant will go and fight.” (1 Samuel 17:32B) God is calling men and women in these last days to rise up in faith and fight the giants of doubt, unbelief and fear. You, like David, can win a great victory in the face of defeat.

When Ahab and Jezebel ruled over Israel, one of the darkest clouds possible covered the land. In the midst of that darkness, God had a man who would rise up in the power of His might. Had there not been an Elijah in that day, the powers of darkness could have possibly held every mind in captivity and every heart in bondage. Every person would have been caught between two opinions. Elijah stood up to 850 prophets led by a furiously wicked woman named Jezebel. A great victory was won that day in the face of defeat because Elijah rose up.

The Plague in Your Heart Can Be Stayed

God is looking for servants like Phinehas, Samuel, David, Elijah and others who will face the darkness and stay the plague. What is that plague in your heart? What is the thing that always draws you back or stops your spiritual progress? Has a Zimri come to discourage you and keep you from having faith to rise up and move forward?

Jesus Christ has won the victory for you. He stood up in the midst of darkness and gained a great victory. Humble your heart today like Phinehas; cry out to God. Cling to that old rugged cross until the plague is stayed in your life. “Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed. And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for ever more.” (Psalms 106:30-31)

Praise God, there is victory in Jesus Christ in the face of defeat. There is a “sufficient grace” available to you today in the midst of the darkness. Rise up today and have faith in God. He cannot fail. He must prevail, have faith in God, have faith in God.