When Shall We Be Stronger?  

by Jean Easley  

    For many years, Bro. Easley and I were able between travels to return to a place of employment in Colorado whenever the need arose to do so.  With that financial help, we were able to pay bills and keep traveling.  Raising support for missions was not always easy.  So itinerating, alternately working at secular jobs, spending as much time as possible on the field, and adding some evangelistic and pastoral periods was our life.  

    During one of those times in Denver at the job, we attended a lively church in the heart of the city during a revival meeting.  Actually, we did not know previously that there would be a special speaker.  We had been praying for some time for the Lord to show us what to do to see fulfilled the call of God on our lives.  As much as we appreciated being able to return to that company for employment, it seemed we were just treading water as far as improving our financial situation.  If ever we needed to hear from the Lord, it was now.  

    The preacher took his text from II Kings 7--the story of the four leprous men at the gate of Samaria.  He titled his message, "When Shall We Be Stronger?"  As the evangelist preached, God began speaking to us.  We have experienced the presence of the Lord many, many times over the years, but as a message was concerned, this one was directly at us.  We found ourselves clinging to every word.  The leprous men would die if they stayed where they were.  Samaria was too besieged to take pity on anyone right then.  The only answer was to approach the camp of the Syrian army and beg for mercy.  When shall we be stronger?  They were not going to get any better until they made a move.  The preacher asked when the church would be any better equipped to win souls than right then.  The obvious answer was, "Never!"  

    To our spirits, the Lord said, "Make your move."  And that was not the only thing God said to us that night.  He assured us that just as the lepers had come upon the spoil--a spoil so great that they could not even have imagined--so the spoil awaits those who will step out in faith believing.  Hallelujah!  

    We left the church that evening with burning hearts.  And the message burned its way into reality in our lives as we obeyed the Lord and took that step of faith.  We soon left for the mission field and saw the hand of God in so many ways.  There were many times of trial of our faith in consequence to that step taken, too, but many miracles by the hand of God were also witnessed.  No, all of the spoil needed to do God's work has not yet been received, and may God help us from being laden down with lust for material things.  

    The spoil certainly speaks of more than God's provision for us to accomplish the mission.  It also speaks of souls being taken from the hands of Satan.  It speaks of people being delivered from bondage.  The spoil may include the necessities, but it also represents spiritual blessings, anointing, and many other immeasurable benefits of serving God, such as peace, joy, fellowship, love, etc.  So, we do continue to have the assurance in our hearts to this day that God will give us the spoil!  He has given so much, and He will provide all that is necessary to accomplish His will while we remain upon this earth.  He will keep His promise!  And, as He does, the spiritually starving will have their necessary food.

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