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What does it really mean to set our faces like flint? We have heard that scripture pulled out and used so many times, it has almost become cliche, like a self motivating slogan at a pep rally.
But, this is The Word of God, full of Power. All of His WORD is Alive and Active, made for battle and a weapon of great light against the darkness that covers this earth and mans hearts. There must be a more powerful meaning to this, and if so, it must be a concept that is a constant thread of instruction and wisdom throughout The Word and the history of Gods People.
What are the promises of obedience to this command , what are the consequences of treating it as just another cliche or powerless self motivational slogan?
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 (NKJV)
1 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:
3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.
4 “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
7 “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
8 “The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
9 “The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. 10 Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 11 And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.
12 The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.
14 So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
This was not a command from a power hungry God who just wanted obedient servants, His promises, legally and spiritually, brought His people under His protection amidst an earth that was full of both natural and spiritual enemies, both working in unison to destroy all of Gods people and plans.
Throughout the Old Testament we see His People leaving the cover of His Covenant and suffering the consequences for it. We also see them returning fully, with all their hearts, set like flint toward The Lord in prayer and repentance, and being restored to blessing.
They were not aware, or at least fully aware of the spiritual enemies they had that were backing and instigating their enemies and the sin in their own camp. Their connection and access to that world was hidden and limited, until Their Messiah came to free them not only from natural enemies, but to expose and openly defeat the real enemies behind the scenes, The Kingdom Of Darkness and Satan.
Jesus came with a ministry and message that all wanted to see and experience. Many saw the miracles and authority that He and His Disciples demonstrated and were drawn to it.
Some may have thought this was a new thing that didn't require the same commitment as trying to follow the myriad of Old Testament Laws. Some may have thought all they had to do was follow this new prophet and all would be well. They may have thought following this guy will be a cake walk. However Jesus made it very clear the cost of truly walking as a Disciple.
57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”
58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”
But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Even at the very end of the age we see The Lord telling His People to be on fire for Him, to be diligent, focused, mission led and Spirit Filled. He tells them their natural state without Him and His Spirit giving them life, and He, even at the last hour, calls them to return fully and be blessed fully.
Revelation 3:14-22 (NKJV)
The Lukewarm Church
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,[b] I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
So what is this mission that we are to be giving our all to? What are the better promises of the better covenant that Jesus secured for us by His own Blood?
What mission can we only fully enter into when we have set our faces and hearts like flint toward The Lord and His Commands?
What does He promise those who "lose their lives" in order to "save their lives"? What military victories does He have for His people in the New Testament, that the battles of The Old Testament were only shadows and forms of?
Well I could copy and paste the entire Book of Acts, but instead I encourage you with all my heart to read it once again with this post in mind.
I will end with one final scripture. The Last Commission of Our Commander and King. What a great call and responsibility to join Him in His Work.
Are we ready to forsake the things of this world fully in order to do His Will Fully? Be honest with yourself, He will help reveal and remove all that hinders us and His People, as long as we are fully engaged and set like flint toward His Face.
Mark 16:15-20 (NKJV)
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Christ Ascends to God’s Right Hand
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen
