In yesterday’s post from Joel, his last sentence read: “The first place to start [regarding leadership development] when looking for harvest workers is PRAYER.” I agree. Let me share the following story.
Around three hundred years before the birth of Christ, a certain king name Pyrrhus was reigning on the throne in Greece. Because he was a great soldier, he was recruited by the people of Terentum to wage war against the Romans. Pyrrhus was victorious in many of the battles and played an interesting “war card” against the Romans. He used elephants! That’s right! Pyrrhus had in his arsenal seventy trained elephants who would run in to the ranks of the enemy, knock the Roman soldiers down, and trample them to death. Sometimes an elephant would grab an enemy soldier with his trunk and throw him high into the air.
Needless to say, this pack of pesky, penetrating, powerful pachyderms packed a powerful punch, paralyzing the Romans with fear. Eventually, one Roman soldeir was brave enough to rush at an elephant while it was charging and cut off a part of its trunk with his sword. The elephant arsenal at Pyrrhus’ disposal was soon contained by the Romans.
Thus, Pyrrhus found it wise to resort to negotiations for peach with the Romans. As was his custom, Pyrrhus sent his eloquent negotiator Cineas to the Roman Senate. In previous scenarios, Cineas was quite successful in encouraging warring legislative bodies to agree to peace with Pyrrhus.
An interesting phrase became common to the Greeks of the day which hinged on this point in history. The Greeks used to say, “The tongue of Cineas wins more cities than the sword of Pyrrhus!” As I reflected upon this ancient saying and scenario, the following scriptures came to mind:
Revelation 12:11: And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death.
Ephesians 6:12: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of the darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Proverbs 18:21: The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Let us be reminded that our victory does not come through persuasive words, clever physical weapons of warfare (be it elephants or such), or brilliant minds.
Instead, our advocate (Christ) intercedes in the heavenlies on our behalf and He has granted to us the indwelling Holy Spirit that teaches us how to pray. As you war today in the heavenly realms, pray the scriptures above to God as an affirmation of His position and your position.
Comments?
by Rob Campbell