This morning I was thinking about a song by Bethel Music. It is called Raise a Hallelujah. Let me share some of the words with you today.
I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies. I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah; my weapon is a melody. I raise a hallelujah; heaven comes to fight for me
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm. Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar. Up from the ashes, hope will arise. Death is defeated, the King is alive!
The time to raise a hallelujah is not after the battle, or after you have seen all your promises manifest. The time to raise a hallelujah is in the heat of the storm. In the face of your enemies. And when doubt it attempting to get ahold of you. It is when everything looks impossible in the natural.
It was when the children of Israel were facing a Red Sea, that was impossible to cross, while their enemies were fast approaching that God said, “Stand still and see My salvation.” (Exodus 14:13)
Psalm 23:4-5 says, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.
RAISE A HALLELUJAH!
God does not say He will remove all our enemies and usher us into the Promised Land. No! He says, I will cause you to feast in the midst of your enemies.
In the book of Numbers, we find the children of Israel had been given the Promise Land by God. They sent men in and spied out the land. Ten came back with a bad report, while only two came back with a good report. They all agreed the fruit of the land was wonderful, the land as great as God had said it was, but there where giants in the land. For the ten, they only saw the size of the giants, but the other two, Joshua and Caleb, they only saw the promise. They knew because God had given them the land, they could overcome. So, what happened? Each one of them received what they believed. The ten never entered their Promised Land, although it was theirs for the taking. Joshua and Caleb entered into their Promised Land and had all God promised them.
We are at a time and season in God when He is once again making a way where there seems to be no way. The question is, what will our reaction be when we see the giants in the land? Will we stand firm knowing we will overcome? Or will we shrink back at the sight of the size of the giants?
Hebrews 10:35-39 says, Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
The Passion Translation puts it this way: So, don’t lose your bold, courageous faith, for you are destined for a great reward! You need the strength of endurance to reveal the poetry of God’s will and then you receive the promise in full. For soon and very soon, “The One who is appearing will come without delay!” And He also says, “My righteous ones will live from my faith. But if fear holds them back, my soul is not content with them!” But we are certainly not those who are held back by fear and perish; we are among those who have faith and experience true life!
If we are going to experience the life Jesus died to give us, we must overcome. We must press in with full assurance that what God has promised, He will perform.
If we are going to inhabit our Promised Land, we will face giants, there is no doubt about it. We will need endurance. Not only endurance, but we will need enough confidence in God and His Word that we will raise a hallelujah in the heat of the battle. We must rejoice and refuse to back down in the very midst of our enemies. We can and will feast at the table of the Lord in the very place.
During this season, as you are expecting God to make a way, remember you have a part to play. You must press into God. And you must raise a hallelujah in the presence of your enemies. You must sing louder than ever, especially when unbelief is trying to get hold of you. And most of all, you must refuse to draw back. God has no pleasure in those who draw back. You have made your stand, now stand firm.
Let your voice be heard in this season, sing unto the Lord a new song, as He does a new thing in your midst.
Appoint My Days
I am patient and kind. I do not envy or boast. I walk in humility. I refuse to be rude or indecent, even when wronged. I am not easily upset, and I keep no record of wrongs. I rejoice in the truth, and I rejoice that Christ lives in me and He is the hope of Glory! I trust, hope, and endure no matter what. For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8, Philippians 4:13, Colossians 1:27
