FACING THE LION

"A lion, which is mighty among the beasts and does not turn away from any" - Prov 30:30


Goliath was a kind of lion, fearful in appearance and his voice was like the roaring of the lion - the hearts of the children of Israel fainted, they couldn't see themselves as anything but preys - this Goliath wasn't going to back off. So a shepherd boy heard the roaring, he has killed a lion before - this one would not be an exception, though frightening - he would be killed all the same.


The lion is no play mate to any man, it is frightening in appearance and also deadly. The lion exact fear on its prey but doesn't fear any. Among the beast, it is acclaimed to be the king. Do not think that all lions are locked up in a zoo, or somewhere in the forest. We will be faced with some situations that will roar at us, the appearance of such lion will make us tremble, if you retreat, the lion will pursue - and if you dare challenge, then you must be sure of your strength.


Those who had a ministry somewhat faced lions, whether they were physical or represented in human body - they all showed the same characteristics - they wanted to devour, even Jezebel made prophet like Elijah run. Samson was also faced with a lion - but thanks be to God who gave him victory. Daniel too was brought into the den of lions, and yet he overcame. The lion may be powerful, yet we have a lion of the tribe of Judah.


To accomplish triumph in the spiritual race, one must face the lion before him - the old testament examples are not there to show us about physical strength alone - but they are indicators to a depth on how to face the lions. The scriptures clearly says that all beast has been tamed and until you find a way of taming this lion, you may not get to your destination.


WHEN THE LION ROARS
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." - 1Pet 5:8


When the devil takes the form of a lion and roars at us, many are spiritually deaf and do not know that such a time calls for alertness. Many have said the devil is not powerful and I agree, but if we do not become alert, that pseudo-lion will soon do more damage than a real lion. Let us not ignore the roaring, it will distort the normal cause of our lives - if we do not shut the roaring lion up, it will eat us up.


Another thing that could give a man confidence is if the lion is caged. The lion in the zoo is allowed to roar and no one is afraid, because it is in the cage. The scriptures clearly tells us that this one is not caged, it is going about, and it has to be dealt with. Until that time when satan is caged for a thousand years, the Christain must be alert to the wiles of the evil one.


The reason to be alert is not to fear and tremble, the reason to be alert is to face whatever it is, whether a mouse with the microphone or the actual lion - if you are deaf to its roars, then do not blame anyone. The devil roars to announce to you that there is war, you should deal with it and not act as if it is not. Some have become too confident to think the devil is giving empty threats - don't be afraid, just deal with it.


"So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Now to his surprise, a young lion lion came roaring against him. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done." - Judges 14:5-6


I pray the Holy Spirit open your eyes to the above scripture, Samson was in the company of his parents, yet they didn't know what he did, or is it that they didn't hear when the lion roared? Please, understand that the roaring of the enemy can be addressed to only you directly. The above scripture says the lion roared at him. I begin to sense some spiritual alertness on the part of Samson - the lion may not be visible to the parents, but Samson heard it, and he was surprised. Don't let the company of people fool you, there is a lion set on the lose to devour!


Let the Christain not be surprised when the lion roars and let him not think that it is a matter of physical strength, the scripture points that the Spirit of God came mightily upon Samson. Don't be naive, you can't get physical with the lion - it is by spiritual warfare that you can cage or kill the roaring lion. Nothing was in his hand, yet he killed the lion that roared at him.


The lion is set on the loose, remember it doesn't turn back for anyone, it is either you silence it or it silence you. When Job was being tried, the devil said he was going to and fro all the earth. This roaring can even make a person lose focus, if you don't deal with it now.


HOLINESS TAMES THE LION
"My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also O king, I have done no wrong before you." - Dan 6:22


No defence is as strong as the life of purity, nothing silences the enemy more than our innocence - when the people would have thought that Daniel had died, when the king got there for a lamentation, Daniel suddenly spoke up and said he was innocent before God and even innocent before the king, why then shouldn't the angel shut the mouth of the lion.


If a man's way pleases the Lord, He will make the enemies to be at peace with him. If the Christian would follow God with strong convictions, if the Christian would stand up for truth and refuse to be intimidated by envious people - no amount of lions can devour you. In fact, Daniel didn't need to lift a finger, he only stayed all the night and the lions suddenly went on a fast. Understand that even the appearance of a lion can frighten someone to death - yet Daniel was calm.


One other thing that surprises me is that, some people can decide to send lions on our way, they are not the lions but they know when to send threats to us - they make sure they don't give empty threats and yes they have lions who they can set loose on your chase...this usually happens to the child of God through persecution because of one's faith.


"So it was, after he he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back. When he was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his corpse was thrown on the road, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the corpse." - 1Kings 13:23-24


So the young prophet went one way to the temple to prophesy against king Jeroboam, he was asked by the LORD not to go back that same way he came or eat anything on the road, but an old prophet came and deceived him - he decided to take that same road to eat bread in the old prophet's house, and alas, the young prophet was killed by a lion for disobeying. It wasn't as if the lion wasn't there when he passed the other time - but if a man walks in obedience, every lion will be tamed before him.


The lion didn't even eat the man, the lion didn't care to eat the young prophet's donkey either - he was just sent on a mission to finish the ministry of a young man. I hope that someone will consider his or her ways today and not give in to the pressure to fit in from the crowd. I hope someone will understand that some things may look like prophetic instruction but are just a trap to get us killed. The lion is tamed in obedience but roars and devours when one walks in disobedience.


It's possible you think I am just playing around the word 'lion' and you may even be admiring the links and possibly you haven't gotten the message...that is a risk in itself. The lions themselves tremble at that man who is blameless, the lion is muted against that man who walks according to God's agenda. Don't you know that the Lion of the tribe of Judah backs him who is on His side?


BEWARE OF ITS CARCASS
"After some time, when he returned to get her, he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass of the lion. He took some of it in his hands and went along, eating. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they also ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion." - Judges 14:8-9


Samson's started to defile himself when he began to touch dead things. He started to flaunt his consecration by disregarding the rules of his calling. Though he had killed a lion, he didn't have any business with its carcass. What does that mean to us today? When you overcome an opposition - please move on and don't start feasting on it as if there lies your testimony.


When we look back, we will see the victories we have won, but we can only take courage from such event, your real testimony lie in what you were able to do after you overcame the lion. Don't go back there trying to relish on a dead carcass. You may have overcome some addictions or fierce criticism on your way to the top - do not think it is wise to start to expose yourself to that same thing.


Your old man is dead, why do you keep looking back and calling it 'the good old days? Do you think you will not defile yourself in the process of relishing in the life of the old man - though some of the memories may appear sweet, but are you sure you don't want to count them all as dung for the excellence of knowing Christ. Don't keep resurrecting the old man, don't think you can use experience of the old man to substitute in the new man - bringing such may bring defilement.


"But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion." - Ecc 9:4


If the lion is dead there is hope for you to live, if the lion is dead, to tame the dog is easier, why then do you try to resurrect the dead lion. It comes with its honey but it defiles the whole. Don't be deceived, you are now joined unto the living - the breath of Christ is inside of you - knowing this, that your old man is dead (Rom 6:6)


I do not know the pleasure you derive from that your old nature, but it can be more fatal now if you insist on visiting its carcass. Samson's parents did not know where he got the honey from, they did not ask, he did not tell - they were all defiled together. When we are not sensitive to see the importation of the old man in our fellowship, we will all be at risk.


And it is possible that you are in the midst of the living yet you are carcass, many sweet things emanates from you yet it just keeps the brethren cold and spiritually dead, please deal with that old man before it puts everyone in trouble.


CONCLUSION:
We must face and defeat the fiery lion on our way to fulfill destiny or ministry, but we must do so with a pure life, when we have defeated the lion, please leave the carcass alone. It defiles you and the brethren.


God bless you and I love you
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals