Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Ammunition

Ammunition
October 26, 2009
Psalm 127:5 "Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of [children]. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies at the gate."

I have prayed many times that the Lord would bless me; most of the time I am praying for financial blessing. But for some reason, every time I pray to be blessed, my wife ends up pregnant. While children often times are the opposite of a financial blessing, I have found that the reward is not in actually having children; the reward is in what they can do with their lives. Even if you don't have children, this scripture applies to you, as we are ALL in a position to teach or mentor someone, spiritually. The whole point in having a child is not so they can love you, but so you can rear them in the ways of the Lord that they might be used for Him and His glory.

Consider an archer, as the Bible relates children (or spiritual children) to arrows. An arrow was very useful to an archer in battle. A skilled archer could draw back his bow and kill his opponent with one well-placed shot. But before the archer could draw back his bow, he had to fill his quiver with arrows. When this scripture was written, an archer could not buy his arrows at a local sporting goods store. No, an archer only used the arrows that he himself had made. If he made them, he could ensure they where straight and true, to fly correctly. He could make sure they had a sharpened point to pierce the armor of his opponent. He could make sure that the nock and feathers were properly fastened to ensure stability of the arrow. If the archer intended to hit his target, despite his good aim, his quiver better be full of quality arrows.

In this life, the only battle that we are fighting is a spiritual battle. Anyone you are in a position to teach or influence for Christ is considered a spiritual child to you, and it will be a blessing if your quiver is full of them. If your quiver is full of arrows (spiritual children), then you've ensured that your children are straight and following the ways of the Lord. You have ensured that they are sharpened with the knowledge of the Gospel and that they are stable in their foundation in Christ. And when you are sure the arrows are fully ready for use, you can draw back your bow and send them out.

It is important to remember that an arrow in the quiver is useless if it is never sent out. The arrow can only be of benefit to the archer in battle, to accomplish his goal, if he sends it out. The Bible says that one person can put 1,000 to flight and that two people can put 10,000 to flight. That is why it is a blessing to have a quiver full of arrows (spiritual children). The more arrows you have, the more you will accomplish in this spiritual battle called life. Your children are not yours; they are the Lords. He has entrusted them to your care, to ensure the arrows are ready for use in battle. Even if you don't have kids, fill your quiver full of spiritual children and then send them out; it will be a huge blessing to you.

1. Who are your children (physical and spiritual)?
2. How are you equipping them to be sent out?
3. Are you holding them in your quiver or are you sending them out?

Add. Scriptures for Study: Deut 32:30, 1 Sam 12:23, 1 Kings 8:36, Ps 34:11, Ps 132:12, Matt 18:6, 2 Tim 3:16, Heb 5:12, 2 John 1:9

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