“The Cave” - Update

Right after sending this message out, the Father reminded me why apostles and prophets must be patient. I thought I was done and coming out of my cave and yet, there must still be some things which need correction. I’m still here 4years later. The Father disciplines those He loves:

Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭5‬-‭12‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

“And have you [completely] forgotten the divine word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him; For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes. You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline? Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God's children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all]. [Prov. 3:11, 12.] Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we yielded [to them] and respected [them for training us]. Shall we not much more cheerfully submit to the Father of spirits and so [truly] live? For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness. For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness–in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God]. So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees, [Isa. 35:3.]”

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Today in a Zoom call Apostle Ronny Robinson said, “you are whole!” to me in a prophetic word, said directly for me. If he could see me he would be laughing. But then I realized, regardless of my physical condition, I am whole in Christ. The flesh is weak, and must be crucified daily. Everyone on that Zoom call was with me in my cave! We are training for something big. A Spiritual operation, unlike the world has never seen. Are we ready to come out of our cave?

“The Cave” by Dave Bessey

www.reach413.com

I am coming out of my cave. It has been tough, but it is time. Mind you I am not running marathon of ministry events or anything…but it is time to train up the remnant warriors.

What happened to David and the 400 men? They were in distress, in debt and discontented and followed him into the Cave of Adullam, but after 9 months they emerged as David’s Mighty Men – faith-filled, fearless and victorious in glory. It is time to activate the mighty warriors!

1 Samuel 22:1- 2 David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

Nine months in the cave. The length of time it takes to birth something new. The answer to what led the transformation in the men lies in the Psalms, many of which were written by David while in the cave.

The Cave of Adullam was a place of revelation from the Holy Spirit about how David led this transformation in his men.

There is much to be learned about how we stand in the face of distress, debt and discontentment with what was learned by David’s Mighty Men.

The three main things we discovered from David’s time in the cave with those men were:

The Power of:

1. Testimony

2. Praise

3. Thanksgiving

Testimony

On David’s way to the cave, he came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. He asked Ahimelech if he had a weapon that he could have for his journey. Ahimelech said that he “happened to have the sword of Goliath” that he, David, can have. Imagine that! The very sword that David used to cut off Goliath’s head after he defeated him was miraculously there for him, unbeknownst to him!

1Samuel 21:9 And the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here." And David said, "There is none like that; give it to me."

God had prepared that very sword to be in David’s path as a testimony of His faithfulness and a reminder of victory against all odds! Imagine the flood of remembrance that filled David about how God had stood by him against Goliath. Imagine the same for the 400 that followed David as he led them into that cave carrying Goliath’s sword. The testimony of how what God has done, He can do again and again! Listen to what has been attributed as one of the first Psalms David wrote in the cave of Adullam:

“I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let’s exalt his name together. I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame. This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. Yahweh’s angel encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.”Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭WEBUS‬‬

Testimony had led a way to begin to build the faith of David and the 400 men.

Praise

David was a man of praise with a heart after God. Against all odds and in despair, David led the men in worship and praise of the Almighty God. He taught the men that praise is the act of ascribing worth to God no matter what the circumstances are or what the environment looks and feels like.

“Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Worship Yahweh in holy array.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭29‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭WEBUS‬‬

“I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth. My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let’s exalt his name together. I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭WEBUS‬‬

“My heart is steadfast, God. My heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises. Wake up, my glory! Wake up, lute and harp! I will wake up the dawn. I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies. Be exalted, God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.” Psalms‬ ‭57‬:‭7‬-‭11‬ ‭WEBUS‬‬

Thanksgiving

David knew how to approach God. He knew that thanksgiving was the first step in approaching God’s presence as was the pattern of the Tabernacle. Hallowed be your name.

“Shout for joy to Yahweh, all you lands! Serve Yahweh with gladness. Come before his presence with singing. Serve Yahweh with gladness. Come before his presence with singing. Know that Yahweh, he is God. It is he who has made us, and we are his. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, and bless his name. For Yahweh is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100‬:‭1-5‬ ‭WEBUS‬‬

“Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High. Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”” Psalms‬ ‭50‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭WEBUS

There are many Psalms written by David filled with testimonies of God’s faithfulness, praising, and giving thanks to God. David’s leadership of the 400 men that led to their transformation was accomplished by focusing their faith on the majesty of the God that is worthy of all praise and thanksgiving. The God that delivered them before will deliver them again! Their praise had become bigger than their problems and they changed from victims to victorious mighty men!

Thanks giving -“transforming power of thanksgiving”:

1. Being thankful boosts your health by reducing depression, stress, lowering blood pressure and producing more energy and greater optimism

2. Being thankful slows the aging process. In older adults, the daily practice of gratitude slowed the effects of neuro degeneration.

3. Being thankful puts the brakes on stress. Cortisol, often called the stress hormone, is significantly lowered through positive emotions such as gratitude.

4. Being thankful helps us bond with each other. Research shows that gratitude leads to better relationships through an increased production of oxytocin also known as the “bonding hormone”.

5. Being thankful is good for the heart. Research shows that those who actively express thanksgiving can reduce blood pressure by 10%. Say thank you.

God has designed us with the ability to experience transformation in every part of our lives by grace through faith. The power of thanksgiving releases His glory. Let it fall!