Thursday 12 November 2015

God Turns the Tables



God Turns The Tables

Scriptures: Daniel 6 v 11 v 7 - 24;      1 Corinthians 2 v 7-8; 1 Kings 18 v 21-41. 
1 Corinthians 2 v 8: "Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory."

One of the most wonderful ways that our God shows His power is by the way He turns the tables on Satan when His faithful people call upon His name when in distress. God always shows up and causes us to triumph when defeat seems imminent.

Think of Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal, the Babylonian god. They challenged Elijah to prove His God was more powerful than theirs. They built an altar and spent the whole day commanding fire to consume it. Nothing happened. Elijah poured water all over his altar to make it hard to burn but Our God consumed his altar, their altar, and all 450 prophets of Baal were slain by Elijah as well! This got the God of Elijah reinstated as the One true God in Israel.

Daniel was thrown into the lion's den by a jealous group of officials of King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, because Daniel, one of the Jews who were captured by them, worshipped the God of Israel contrary to their decree. The king loved Daniel but had to order his death because he had decreed that no one could pray to any but him.

However, our God turned the tables and the lions ignored Daniel all night. Next morning he was released and the jealous officials were thrown into the pit with their whole families and immediately devoured. When we pray and believe that God has heard us He will outwit the enemy every time.

By His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ turned the tables on Satan and every false religion. In 1 Corinthians 2 v  7- 8 Paul speaks about the mystery of the hidden wisdom ie God's plan of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus - which Satan and his demons had no clue about or they would not have crucified Him.

They were outwitted by the Resurrection of Jesus! And by the fact that we were in Him like the animals on Noah's Ark. Safe and secure within the Rock for every one who believes in Jesus the Saviour.  When we are obedient to Him we are under His protection. When we stray the enemy pounces.

So likewise for us if we are in a tricky situation let us call on Jesus our Saviour and Redeemer to rescue us no matter what the problem may be. His answers may make no immediate sense but His ways are wise and He sees the future. He will turn the tables on the most dire situation and bring victory out of it.

In the book, Rees Howells Intercessor by Norman Grubb, the testimony is shared of how God gave Welshman Rees Howells four specific things to intercede for concerning the outcome of World War II. It was Hitler's March on Russia; Hitler in Italy; Hitler's war in Africa and the Allied Invasion of Normandy. He had to pray for a reversal of fortune for Hitler in these four arenas. He spent 20 hours a day on his knees and saw Hitler falter at each of those places before his final defeat. After the war these were known as Hitler's Four Blunders that cost him victory.

God used a praying man to bring Hitler to his knees. The tables were turned four times to give victory in Europe. When God directs prayer towards situations like these you can be assured of a victorious outcome. So keep up a continuous prayer life guided by the Holy Spirit and every need will be met. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father it is always wonderful to rejoice in Your victories especially when things look bleak, knowing that You turn the tables in response to our faith and prayers. You cause the enemy to make blunders through greed and thereby destroy his power over us. Father keep us faithful and committed to prayer to see every victory won. In Jesus' name. Amen.