Jeremiah 51:20-23
Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; [21] And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; [22] With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; [23] I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.
The Bible describes God as a “Man of War” He fights on behalf of His children. Also, He is at war with the kingdom of darkness, so that the kingdom of God can be established in the hearts of men. In the text above, God is referring to you and I , that are called by His name, as His “Battle-Axe” An Axe is an instrument, a tool used in chopping wood or anything else. A good axe must be swift, sharp, strong and powerful. God expects every Christian to be His battle-axe, which He will use in destroying the kingdom of darkness. The devil is aware of this fact, so he is vigilant, he knows the Christians that are not useful and cannot function as razor blade, let alone being battle-axes, for the Lord. That is why the seven sons of Sceva suffered in the hands of a man that was possessed of evil spirits.
Acts 19:13-16
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. [14] And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. [15] And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? [16] And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Some Christians are tools and toys in the hands of the devil; whereas, that is not the will of God.
There was a young man who gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ, many years ago. This was seen as a reproach to his family, so his father made several attempts to kill him but failed. One day, the father called him to ask what the source of his power was. He then confessed that he had made several attempts to kill him but all proved abortive. The young man was untouchable because he was already a battle-axe in the hands of God.
Many Christians have died untimely and some are in hell now because they refused to be the battle-axe of God. Today, beloved, you have the opportunity of making the choice of becoming God’s battle –axe or not.
The world is a battle-field and it is a place of darkness that is why
Psalm 74:20
Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
In the habitation of cruelty, there is no mercy, you cannot afford to be neutral there. You must have to take a stand. God does not want anyone to suffer unjustly so, you must refuse to allow the enemy to pull you down.
Psalm 91:3-5
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. [4] He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. [5] Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
You must appreciate that this world is a battle- field and you should be God’s battle-axe. This text shows that the battle goes on day and night and there is no hiding place and there is no room for idleness. The devil is occupied 24hours of the day and he fires arrows at people, day and night.
WHY DOES GOD WANT YOU TO BE A BATTLE AXE?
1. So that He can break nations into pieces.
2. So that He can destroy the kingdom of darkness.
3. So that He can destroy demonic agents.
4. So that He can destroy satanic principles and practices.
Except you are a battle-axe in the hands of God, you cannot do the above mentioned things. Being God’s battle-axe, takes more than church attendance. You have to start from the starting point, which is an encounter with the Lord, before you can grow and groom yourself into being useful and useable in His hands.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD’S BATTLE_AXE
1.Must be rust-free
An axe must not get rusted; otherwise, it becomes blunt and will not be able to chop anything. Rust in the life of a Christian, could be in many forms.
a. Unbroken curses
Reuben, the first born of Israel, had a curse upon his life because of his misdeeds. Genesis 49:3-4
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the Excellency of dignity, and the Excellency of power: [4] Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.
Reuben had every reason to excel as a first-born, but he sold his birthright on the altar of fornication and adultery, he slept with his father’s wife. Instead of getting his father’s blessing, he got a curse. He lost every benefit that is attached to being a first son. If you know that somewhere along the line, someone issued a curse upon you, justly or unjustly. I would like you to pause here now, and take these prayer points with all your might and all the determination that you can gather.
Every curse issued against my destiny break, by the blood of Jesus in the name of Jesus.
Every inherited curse, working against my life, break by fire, in the name of Jesus.
A curse could stand against the will of God for a person’s life, that is why you would find some people who in their heart of hearts desire to serve God but they end up not doing it or not doing it well. Unless such curses are broken, the person remains powerless and bound. If you have ever been involved in occultism or your parents are or were Occultic there are certain pronouncements that could be standing against you and hindering the move of God in your life. You have to break them. Some people who were Occultic before giving their lives to christ, transfer some attitudes into their Christian life and such things could stand against their relationship with Christ. For example, if they pray facing particular directions pray naked, put on white clothing on particular days or give alms.etc.
A curse could serve as a ladder through which the devil climbs into a person’s life. It could stand as a legal ground for the devil to refuse to leave.
b.Evil covenants
Some parents enter into evil covenants with the powers of darkness, on behalf of their children for many reasons. It could be in appreciation of what they think that the idol did for them, or in anticipation of what they believe it would do. Such covenants bind the children to the powers of the idol unless the covenant is deliberately broken, it would stand against the will of God for the person’s life. Some people are unaware of these covenants and sometimes; the parents continue to renew the covenants at given periods. There are some people who do not believe in the existence of dark powers, this does not hinder the covenants that is standing against then, they could even be Christians, until such covenants are broken, such people may not make head –way in their Christian living, they will just find out that they cannot pray well, or read the Bible as they should.
Sometime ago, God showed me the picture of the life of some Christians as being like gold-plated jewelry. It was not gold but the outer-surface was coated with gold. Such Christians are shallow they look pious, speak like Christians act like Christians but in their hearts, they are filthy and rotten, deep down within, they are the strongholds of the devil. Some people are sincerely ignorant of their predicament but there are some, who purposely enter into such covenants without sacrifices, which look very simple but are much loaded with evil powers. Not all covenants involve shedding of blood or carrying sacrifices. Some are done through the eating of food, illicit sex, names, habitation, parental foundations, etc.
2.Must be free from impurity
Any atom of worldliness leads to impurity and hinders person from prospering in the things of God.
1 John 2:15-16
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Impurities:
1. Instinctive addiction to food, sleep, drugs etc
2. sin
3. pride
Anyone that is not pure in his or her heart and deeds, is not worthy of being a battle-axe in the hands of God. The eyes of God cannot behold sin and He cannot share His children with the world and the devil.
3.Must pass through fire
An axe is made from metal; for it to get its shape, the metal-smith puts the metal in fire and hits hard on it, to shape-shift it, So also are human beings in the hands of God. The Bible refers to God as the potter and we are the clay. He can mold, shape- shifted us the way he wishes. After getting the desired shape, he puts the clay in fire and it becomes ready for use.
If you must become God’s battle-axe, passing through fire becomes non-negotiable. Passing through fire might not be pleasant but in the end, it makes a person a better vessel. Passing through fire could be trials, temptations, hardship etc. A student that does not sit for examination or tests cannot pass and cannot graduate. Sometimes, a person passes through fire without knowing why, until God promotes him or her.
Moses went through hardship and was in the wilderness for years. He did not know that God was preparing him for leadership role. During those years, he learnt patience, long-suffering, fore-bearance, appreciation, care, administration etc. When it was time to do that which God called him to for, he was able to do it, he brought his people out of bondage and led them through the wilderness and paved the way for them to enter into the Promised Land.
2 Cor. 1:8-9
For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: [9] But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
In this text, Paul describes what he passed through. He survived it, with an assurance that God would deliver him.
1 Cor. 15:32
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
This was part of Paul’s training program. The training program that God passes His children through can be likened to the kind that mother eagle gives the eaglets before they can fly.
Deut. 32:11-12
As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: [12] So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
The Bible describes the believer as an eagle, in many places. The eagle is a strong bird that flies high.
Before it develops to that stage, mother-eagle makes it to pass through rigorous training. She starts by stirring the nest, tearing it apart so that the eaglet sees the need to do something fast. At this time, the eaglet is scared and as the nest breaks off, it thinks it will fall; before it crashes to the ground though, mother eagle comes under it, spreads her wings and it falls on it. She now picks it with her peak and drops it in the mid-air and rescues it and this continues until the eaglet is able to flap its wings and fly.
What kind of training program are you undergoing or have you undergone? It could be endurance, it could be self-disciplined, it could be the fear or love of God; whatever it is, God’s intention is to make you a better Christian, fit for the Master’s use.
You might have a wicked boss at the office, you might be wondering why he hates you, beloved, it might be God wanting you to pass through those experiences, so that you can learn how to accommodate and tolerate people because this Christian life is a race.
A person could be a battle-axe and then become blunt. He or she could be rendered invalid, if he or she is not careful. The person’s story will now be “once upon a time…..”
Things that can render God’s battle-axe invalid or blunt
1.Inordinate love for the opposite sex
Many people started on the right track with God but fell out because of this sin. For example: Solomon-he had a good inheritance from his father David and he worked on it. He had a good relationship with God to the extent that God asked him to make a special request; he asked for wisdom and God gave it to him and also concluded riches and glory. Unfortunately, Solomon was lured away from God by strange women and he sinned against God.
Samson was prophesied into being and he was a special child dedicated unto God. He was powerful but gave himself up to a strange woman, who betrayed him and died with his enemies.
2.Alcohol
It defiles the temple of God. Do you know that when Occultic people get to a level in their hierarchy, it becomes an offence to take alcohol, so that they will not be soiled. Is it then a child of God, that should allow God’s temple to be defiled?
3.Excessive love for money
Paul advised Timothy to warn the rich people in the church not to allow their riches to make them high-minded because riches are ephemeral and unstable.
A person can be ensnared by the love of money and will be diverted from God’s purpose for his or her life.
Beloved, I hope you now understand God’s expectation from you and I , that He wants us to be His battle-axe. Are you functioning as a battle-axe? Check yourself. If you find out that you have fallen short of God’s expectation, you can make amends today. The Bible says “if one is thirsty, let him come to me and drink…..”
Also, “if thou be willing and obedient thou shalt eat the good of the land”
If you are ready today, God wants to make you His battle-axe. However, you have to start from the starting point. You have to come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you born again? Have you at one time or the other surrendered your life to the Lord Jesus Christ? If you had never done so, I would advice that you make that decision now. The Lord is right there, where you are, confess your sins to Him and ask Him to forgive you. Name them one after the other and ask Him to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Make up your mind that you will never go back to the world of sin and the devil again.
Ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your life and become your personal Lord and saviour. Enthrone Him over your life, let Him reign in your life and direct your affairs.
I congratulate you on this decision that you have just taken. I pray that it shall be permanent in your life in the name of Jesus. I pray that the Lord will uphold you with His right hand of righteousness and will not let you fall. I pray that His power will be bestowed upon you and you will live for him. I pray that He will write your name in the book of life and will name you His battle-axe, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Now, with all the determination that you can gather, I want you to pray these prayer points.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Every contamination that I brought into my life by myself, father Lord, let your fire burn them into ashes in the name of Jesus.
2. I release myself from every covenant of failure in the name of Jesus.
3. Father Lord, make me your battle-axe and your weapon of war in the name of Jesus.
4. Father Lord use me to the glory of your name in the name of Jesus.
5. Father Lord, remove every hindrance to my being used by you in the name of Jesus.
6. I receive the fire of God into my life, so that I will function as His battle –axe, in the name of Jesus.
7. Revival fie that purges cleanse me from all unrightenous in the name of Jesus.
8. Every rusted pipe in my life, receive a change by fire in the name of Jesus.
9. I command the hole in my spiritual pipe to be closed in the name of Jesus.
10. Every evil padlock and every chain, go back to sender in the name of Jesus.
11. I bind the strongman behind my spiritual blindness and deafness in the name of Jesus.
12. I will not throw away my gift of salvation in the name of Jesus.
13. Let water of life flush out every unwanted strangers in my life in the name of Jesus.
14. You haters of God’s salvation in my life, I command you to fry in the name of Jesus.
15. You polluters of life, I pollute you in the name of Jesus.
16. Lord, put into my hand the gift that will elevate my life in the name of Jesus.
17. Holy Spirit fire, cook me to the glory of God in the name of Jesus.
18. oh Lord let the anointing of the Holy Spirit break every yoke of backwardness in my life in the name of Jesus.
19. Let the blood of Jesus remove any unprogressive label from every aspect of my life in the name of Jesus.
20. I reject the spirit of the tail, I choose the sprit of th head in the name of Jesus.
21. I paralyse the ability of any demonic power limiting my progress in the name of Jesus.
22. O lord, give unto me the key to good success so that everywhere I go the doors of good success will be opened unto me.
23. Oh lord establish me as a holy person unto you in Jesus name.
24. Oh lord, let the anointing to excel in my spiritual and physical life fall on me in the name of Jesus.
25. I declare with my mouth that nothing shall be impossible with me in the name of Jesus.
