2019 – OUR YEAR OF GOD’s KINGDOM COME – “KINGDOM TAKE OVER” SUNDAY JUNE 9TH 2019 TRAINING FOR REIGNING SERIES: TURNING OUR LIABILITIES INTO ASSETS Pt 7: HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR OIL

INTELLECTUAL capacity: JUDGES 11: Vs 14-27

12 Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, saying, “What do you have against me, that you have come to fight against me in MY LAND?”

13 And the king of the people of Ammon answered the messengers of Jephthah, “Because Israel took away my land when they came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok, and to the Jordan. Now therefore, restore those lands peaceably.”

14 So Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, 15 and said to him, “Thus says Jephthah: ‘Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the people of Ammon;

Jephthah was able to systematically debunk the claims of the king of the people of Ammon. He trained himself in history, current and political affairs of his land and people all these were part of his preparation for greatness. He went down memory lane, put the records straight and intelligently defended the facts with the history available at his disposal when the facts wanted to be twisted via propaganda. With the full development of his intellectual capacity, Jephthah was able to frustrate the propaganda machine of the King of the people of Ammon with appropriate counter strategies (pure truth and facts) with which he voided the enemies’ propaganda. Jephthah took responsibility for his people and did not disassociate himself from the issue at hand. He that was driven away from a house is now in control of the whole land. Num 20; 21:24; Deut 2:1-37 (31-37)

25 And now, are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel? Did he ever fight against them?

26 While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its villages, in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities along the banks of the Arnon, for three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time? 27 Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the Lord, the Judge, render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon.” 28 However, the king of the people of Ammon did not heed the words which Jephthah sent him.

If your oil is going to profit you, in addition to developing it, you must also develop your intellectual capacity. To develop your intellectual capacity you should study, take developmental courses online, join associations that are relevant to your career/ business and harness the internet on your mobile device. There are free courses online and YouTube channels and countless do it yourself (DIY) videos online. Reading broadens your horizon and enlarges your intellectual capacity. Because of Jephthah’s in-depth knowledge and research about his people and their history, he put the record straight and did not mix up his arguments or sound illogical at any point.

Development of intellectual capacity helps you to

1. Defeat the propaganda machine and win the psychological warfare engaged by the enemy over you – Judges 11:12-15.
   1. The devil is the father of lies, but truth exposes him, for light shines in darkness and the darkness cannot comprehend it. John 1:5
   2. The devil is a master in tweaking and distorting the facts to gain an advantage over you, seek and know the truth. i.e. Adam and eve.

1. Intellectual capacity helps you to take the steam off strength of the enemy and removes his stronghold i.e. what happened to the King of the people of Ammon after Jephthah’s display of intellectual prowess.
   1. Once the reason the king of the people of Ammon gave for the war was defeated and no longer valid; spiritually, Jephthah had punctured the basis for the warfare and rendered it valid.

Pro 26: 2 NLT Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,

an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

1. Intellectual capacity helps put you in an advantageous position over your enemy in any warfare, because you know more than them. You know whatever angle they are coming from and their scheming and plotting will be known to you because you are wiser than them.                            Ps 119:98 You, through your commandments,

make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me.

1. Intellectual capacity helps to give wings to your “oil” as it helps to push your oil forward in the minds of the people.
   1. Jephthah despite the fact that he wasn’t educated was able to amaze those who knew him as the “uneducated son of the harlot who was driven away from the house” by being equipped intellectually.

SPIRITUAL Capacity: JUDGES 11: Vs 27-31

27 Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me.May the Lord, the Judge, render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon”

28 However, the king of the people of Ammon did not heed the words which Jephthah sent him.

29 THEN THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON JEPHTHAH, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through Mizpah of Gilead; and from Mizpah of Gilead he advanced toward the people of Ammon.

When God’s spirit comes upon a man, he will pass through the midst of the enemies and break through all challenges and barriers. He will advance in life beyond the expectation of the enemies and conquer territories. Jephthah broke through and advanced when the spirit of the Lord came upon him by mobilizing young men to join his army even in the midst of the land and territory of the enemies.

30 And JEPHTHAH MADE A VOW TO THE LORD, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands,

31 then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I WILL OFFER IT UP AS A BURNT OFFERING.” ➔

From the above account of Jephthah, we can infer the following:

• • • • • • 1. Jephthah had a relationship with the true God of heaven, the God of judges, the judge of all the earth himself.
            2. Jephthah further understood that it was only this true God that could secure judgement for the children of Israel against the people of Ammon. He understood bible principles like Paul may plant, Apollos may water but it’s God that gives the increase – 1 Cor 3:6, The horse is prepared against the day of battle but victory is of the Lord. Pro 21.31. He did not rely on his skills or negotiation skill but acknowledged that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 2 Cor 3:5, Jer 3:23
            3. He had a relationship with the person of the Holy Spirit.
            4. We also understand that it is the power of the holy spirit that helped Jephthah to breakthrough all challenges, made him pass through the midst of his enemies and advance in life!!
            5. Jephthah understood spiritual dynamics and mechanics: He understood the dynamics of the spirit’s operations, the power of vows and the mechanics of burnt offerings.

Increase in spiritual capacity is one of the primary vehicles for advancement, increase and preservation in life. There is no doubting the fact that Jephthah had developed his spiritual capacity. If you want to develop your oil and make it relevant and profitable to your destiny, you must develop your spiritual capacity!! 

In PPAfan we are raising sons who are highly skilled, spirit filled and world class service providers, who will establish the kingdom of God in their marketplaces of life.

With all the preceding preparations above, the war was captured in only 2 verses 32-33

1. 1. Jephthah advanced towards his enemies: This is a bold step of faith that showed his readiness and prompted the heavens to be opened on him.
   2. The Lord delivered them into his hands: This is spiritual deliverance and defeat in the spirit realm.
   3. He defeated them: This is the physical claim of victory that was earlier concluded in the spirit.
   4. The people of Ammon became subdued before them: This is the subjugation of their enemies, the actual visible victory.

INTEGRITY Capacity: Judges 11:34 – 39           

34 When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his

daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it.”

36 So she said to him, My father, if you have given your word to the Lord, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, because the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the people of Ammon.”

39 And it was so at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She knew no man.

Jephthah made good his vow at the cost of the life of his daughter; his only daughter/ child. Integrity was in his DNA that even his daughter the only child chose to honour God at the expense of her life. ➔ Ps 15:4b ….he who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

Truly Jephthah was a man of integrity. In Jephthah, we see a confirmation of a divine principle on leadership and success as modelled by David: Ps 78:70-72

David’s primary “oil” was shepherding – leadership

• Secondary capacities Jephthah needed to develop:
  • Leadership capacity
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Negotiation skills
  • Spiritual capacity
  • Diplomacy
  • Intellectual capacity
  • Integrity