He Has Given Us the Tools

I have been reading concerning the Israelites as they were given Joshua as their leader and they finally go forth to inhabit the promise land and Joshua is dividing out the portions to each tribe. The one lot that was given to the house of Joseph which was to his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, they are not so excited about their portion and went to Joshua to complain.

Joshua 17:14 And the Children of Joseph spoke to Joshua saying, why have you given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the Lord has blessed me….

I love Joshua's response….

Joshua 17:17 & 18 And Joshua spoke unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, you are a great people and have great power, you shall not have one lot only… 18) But the mountain shall be yours: for it is a wood and you shall cut it down and the outgoings of it shall be yours; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots and though they be strong….

Read the whole chapter of Joshua 17 and you will see Joshua is really putting them in their place. He is telling them… GO and Possess the land! They complained there wasn't enough clearing for all their people to camp and the Canaanites that lived there were stronger and had better equipment to fight. Joshua responds, there is a lot of trees to cut down to enlarge your portion and some battles and wars to win, BUT, you are more than a conquer. The Lord had given them the land- go possess it. We have been given all the tools we need to do what the Lord would have us to do just like these people. However, most of the time we will find ourselves complaining to anyone that will listen about what we don't have or want and cant get. We sit and talk about it and talk about it when the Lord would so gently speak to our spirit to go read the rule book (Bible) that has the tools we need.

We had some things we were dealing with in our family recently and my daughter came to me and was telling me about them and I looked at her and said- "You know what to do"-she said- I sure do. So, go pick up the tools the Lord has given you and go to work. It is work sometimes to use the tools the Lord has given us for war. The army of the Lord is not a slothful, lazy, complaining group. We are fasted up, prayed up, armored up, and a read up group. We are listening and reacting as the Lord leads. That doesn't mean some things happen we don't understand, it means we are at attention and we seek to do His will at His command and He has given us tools to accomplish such a task.

We have been given prayer- a very powerful tool-when is the last time you used it- use it every day-you will find results. We have been given grace-ask the Lord and you can walk in it. This amazing tool won't take all the pain away-but it will allow you to walk upright with a knowing that your Lord and Savior is going before you and has it in control when we feel out of control. Fasting is a tool so needed today with so much of "self" being exalted. Fasting breaks the bondages over yourself, others and situations-use it and you will feel the anointing of God rest upon your life. Humility is a tool the Lord has given us to conquer pride. There are situations allowed in our lives to bring out true motives and intents that sometimes we don't even realize is there. Patience is a tool we all need even with ourselves. It overwhelms me at times when I realize how patient the Lord is, it draws me to Him. You want to be effective in the kingdom with people, be patient with them as you are praying for them. Love-what a tool and where would we all be without it. The pure, unselfish love that looks beyond self to others. Binding and loosing is a very powerful tool also, this is a good tool against harassing spirits that like to speak negative thoughts and harass you, bind them away.

Sometimes the real test and where you use your tools the most is at home with the ones closest to you. I look at these tools as needing to be used like riding a bike, the more you use them the better you get. At first it feels a little awkward but then it gets easier with practice and perseverance. Determine to do it God's way and follow His instructions with His tools and people could be stoning you and there would still be a peace in your heart. When Stephen was being stoned, I don't think he even felt it, His focus was on the Lord.

In all reality, the Lord has given us too many tools to mention in this small word. But my point is, the Lord has given us so many tools to use to possess the land for His kingdom and if we aren't going to use them, then we shouldn't go and complain about where the Lord has us. God doesn't give us cultivated ground, He gives us fertile ground and tells us to work it and produce a good crop. Leave your family and children a spiritual inheritance, a ground that has been worked for the Lord. We don't want to be like Josephs children, they could sit in their camp and complain or go to it… I choose to go to it…….

I would like to encourage you today, to pick up the tools the Lord has given us and use them for His kingdom purpose. Anyone can use them at anytime and be effective in the Kingdom and you don't even have to go very far. Smile at someone and say a prayer for them. Begin a fast, like turn off your TV at night and spend quality time with the Lord and pray for those He reveals to you or maybe the people that got on your nerves that day. Begin walking in a supernatural Love for people and watch what comes out of your mouth. We want the words that come out of our mouth to grace and cover people. Not that we are perfect or do things right all the time, but it can be a goal.

There will come a time when we all will meet the Lord, what a day that will be, I just imagine it sometimes and how glorious it will be and I KNOW that at that time we will be so glad to tell the Lord- I used your tools you gave me on earth……