Worship
“Anything is Possible” by Bethel Music & Dante Bowe
Scripture
“David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him. …
“When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the Lord, ‘Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?’
“The Lord answered him, ‘Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.’
“So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, ‘As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.’ So that place was called Baal Perazim. The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.
“Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, ‘Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.’ So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.” -2 Samuel 5:9-10, 17-25, emphasis added
The Season of Preparation
We find David, at just age 30, crowned with the title and responsibility as king. He had about 15 years of preparation with the Lord, being made ready for his day of leadership and battle. Today, David faces his enemies. With increased anointing, the power of God was manifest through his life for breakthrough for the people of God. Greatness and victory were not born in one day; they were deposited in David in the years of preparation before this moment. God knew the task before David as well as the battles he would face, so the preparation was mandatory. Oh, the kindness and love of God.
I beseech you: Do not despise your days of preparation!
“In God’s plan there is almost always a hidden price of greatness. Often those who become great among God’s people experience much pain and difficulty in God’s training process.” -David Guzik
God’s Victory for Those Who Seek Him
As David sought the Lord, he had success. He was able to partner with God to bring victory to His people, Israel. It was like waters that broke forth that could not be contained! The Lord honored David’s dependence and his heart to seek Him first. In the first battle in this passage of Scripture, David defeats the Philistines with overwhelming force, carrying away the idols they brought to the battle. Nothing could stop or contain the power of God for victory. There was a breakthrough anointing on David for victory because he sought the Lord. And the Lord gave a word: GO!
“Before this breakthrough happened for David and Israel, the scene in Scripture is called the Valley of Rephaim, meaning ‘house of the giant.’ But here is what is awesome: After the breakthrough, it is called Ba’al Perazim, meaning ‘Possessor of Breaches, Lord of the Breakthrough.’ … God broke through the stronghold of the enemy! He named his God above all the little giants of Baal. This still happens for us today. God breaks through in awesome ways that belittle our enemies and cause the oppression to look small in comparison to His strength.” -Shawn Bolz, “Breakthrough: Prophecies, Prayers and Declarations”
A second battle once again emerges in the valley of Rephaim, and, once again, David seeks the Lord for the strategy. This one would be different from the first; there would be a sign first for him to move. He didn’t go out to fight based on the strategy of the last battle, even though this place had encountered the breakthrough power of God. Once again, he has to take his directives from the Lord. “‘You shall not go up; circle around them (2 Samuel 5:23, NKJV).’” God gave David different directions for this battle. Even though the enemy was the same, not every battle is fought the same way. Then the Lord says to him, “‘As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly (2 Samuel 5:24).’” This required David to wait for the Lord to strike the camp of the enemy first. As soon as David heard the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, he was to move.
God is gracious to say when we are to move and when we are to wait till He gives a sign. But what is required of us is to inquire of Him before we do anything!
Living from Response, Not Reaction
Sisters, you and I carry the anointing of the Spirit of God for breakthrough and victory! He has not left us unarmed or without the ability to hear Him or respond to Him with the faith and power He supplies. Our very intimate relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit enables us to face the enemy with confidence that the victory is ours! There is nothing that God does not desire to partner with you on to enforce the victory He paid for on the cross. It’s your inheritance to plunder the camp of the enemy and enforce the Kingdom of God here on Earth.
“I can’t afford to live in reaction to darkness. If I do, darkness has had a role in setting the agenda for my life. The devil is not worthy of such influence, even in the negative. Jesus lived in response to the Father. I must learn to do the same.” -Bill Johnson, Hosting the Presence: Unveiling Heaven’s Agenda
God will give you clear direction for breakthrough and for overcoming your enemy. “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord (Proverbs 21:31).” He has been preparing you all these years to teach your hands to war. The trials and suffering, pain and perseverance has been a deposit into your life for these days. You also have been given a greater authority to minister out of the places of personal victory. Nothing is wasted. Everything matters for this day right now.
The Foundation of Victory
The Lord gave me a dream a few nights ago in preparation for two groups of women I was ministering and speaking to last week. In my dream, women were gathered on their knees in desperation. I could sense a deeper level of surrender and longing. I knew I was to pray for an even greater anointing to fall on them. Many were on their knees and in tears. I too got on my knees to pray for them, and immediately I saw the image of feet come and stand in front of me. I knew in my dream that they were God’s feet. I began to weep in the presence of the Lord in my dream. And from that place, I prayed for the women. It was as though the Lord confirmed that He was standing with me and would be answering their cries of surrender and worship and longing in preparation for the days to come. It was a holy dream of promise and vision to my spirit in where the Lord longs to take His women. He is making His Bride ready.
Every victory has its birth place in dependence and surrender. We are victors, period. But the strategy to victory will be different for each battle. This is why our lives have to be anchored in Jesus and completely wrapped in intimacy. We must know the heart of God before we take a step. We move when He says, “GO.” But we don’t move until He says, “GO.” The days in which we are living require deep intimacy and worship, and His strategies will always lead to victory for His people. And don’t you doubt for a minute that He does not war on your behalf! He is fighting for you; you need only be still and reside in this place of intimacy. He is for you. You are His, and His banner of victory is over you.
A Prayer for Breakthrough
I want to pray for a Baal Perazim anointing for you—a breakthrough anointing born out of even deeper intimacy and authority in Christ Jesus. Many people have seen their camps plundered by the enemy, which was never God’s heart. It’s time to take back what the enemy has taken, that God may restore the years the locust have eaten. You have been made ready for this day!
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your invitation to even deeper surrender, worship, and victory. Thank You for increased authority and anointing to hear Your voice and to know the strategies of Heaven in this hour. I pray that You would bring us to our knees in wondrous dependence and worship. Would You come today and stand before each woman. May she even have a picture of Your feet standing before her, ready to anoint her head with oil as You call her into this critical hour. I pray that where the enemy has played his hand that You would raise up a standard against him. I pray for victory for each woman reading this in the places where she’s waiting for victory, that You would grant her a breakthrough anointing accompanied by Heaven’s strategies. Lord, increase her worship so that the enemy flees. Strengthen her in her innermost being that she would be steadfast and immovable. Fix her eyes on You, Jesus. And I pray against all fear in this hour—it must go, in Jesus’ name. She is seated in heavenly places and operates with the mind of Christ, so let her pray and listen and move from this position. Pour out Your Spirit on my sisters today and let them carry the fire of God in and through their laid down lives of surrender and worship. In Jesus’ name, amen!
“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.” -Psalm 40:3 (ESV)
