Purple Ark Ministries

PAVE Devotional

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June 17th 2009 by Danny Smith

The Sand Garden Part 2

“ Warfare and the Celebration of Victory"

Jer. ch 6:v1-5. Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.   And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.   And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir-wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

An Evangelist is sometimes accused of prayer-preaching and sermon dancing. I am guilty as charged! For Purple Ark Ministries, it has been a weapons of chose to prepare the enemy for defeat. This past Sunday, July 14 th 2009, we open a corner lot and named it, The Sand Garden . In this dry land there is no running water to maintain the plant life. There are also no trees to cover the area. On this day prayer became a waltz as the Holy Spirit poured out the presence of God.

I sometimes remember when I was a barefooted kid playing in the neighbor with my brother and a few cousins. We would scream and dance with joy as the rain would fall around us. I have been in love with God's rain every since.

Historically a war dance is viewed by many as   a dance performed as a ceremony before a battle or to celebrate victory.  When you have victory in Christ, the devil will try to deceive you into believing that you have lost the battle before it begins. In King David's dance before God, he believed that God had given him the victory before his army went into battle.

At The Sand Garden we believed by faith that no weapon formed against the ministry would hold us back. Prior to Sunday, our food source for the poor was delayed and our pickup time was changed to another day. We gave the victory to God anyway; To add to this on Sunday afternoon, the police showed up because someone thought we had broken into the corner lot. We calmly move by faith and gave the victory to the Lord God anyway. The policeman was very polite and our talk was brief. When we turn our troubles over to the Lord, we cannot be defeated by any weapon of Satan. When it looked like the sunlight was going to make it unbearable, the Lord covered the land with his clouds of mercy. Many souls came for prayer and deliverance and yes, “victory is mines sayeth the Lord”.

 In Closing, I am reminded today that when things go wrong and sin comes against you, dance anyway, don't let the enemy still your thunder, dont let him still God glory in you.  Stomp the ground and raise a standard that puts fear in your enemy's eyes.  Isaiah 13:2 says "Lift up a standard on the bare hill, Raise your voice to them, Wave the hand that they may enter the doors of the nobles".

Prayer:

Dear God,  teach us how to trust you with what we cannot see. Give us peace in the storm and a light that shines when we have lost our way. Take away anything that doesn't bring you glory, break off the branch that will not produce fruit. My Garden belongs to you oh God. Let us declare victory now in the name of Jesus.  The battle is over before it begins.  Let us dance in victory as we fight for the glory of God. Amen 3