Week 7 - God breaks out!

2 Samuel 5:20

20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore, the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.

Baal-perazim. Lord of the breakthrough. Lord of the breaking out. This verse, taken from 2 Samuel, details a conflict faced by David, in where God had divinely acted. Such was God’s action that David named the place Baal-perazim – after the God that breaks through. David does this as an act of remembrance, for generations to come the Israelites would remember that place by God’s action.

The Bible is full of examples of God breaking out and his presence flooding into our situations. This is our God. When we turn to the New Testament, we see a grand example of God breaking out. Pentecost, where the spirit of God falls onto the apostles. In their hopeless and abandoned state, God succeeds in breaking through. What follows are the roots of Christianity. Our God is not a distant and removed God. No, he is the God of the breakthrough. The God that can’t stop moving to reach us. Baal-perazim.

Those who know me will know that I have a passion for leading people in worship. I am very blessed to be able to exercise my giftings in this area at LOVECHURCH. With the job of worship pastor comes the job of writing songs, these two have long come hand in hand. Enabling people to engage with God in new ways. I first attempted to write a song when I was 10 – the product of which I hope never resurfaces! The subject of the song had been God’s presence with us – and what follows is the chorus from my masterpiece. 

“I know, that everywhere I go,

I am not alone.

Jesus in my pocket.”

At the time I was thrilled, I had succeeded in writing my first song. And with the perfect blend of melody and lyrics I was destined to be the next Tim Hughes! I was sure of it! However, in my naivety, which I realised much later, the last place Jesus should be is in our pocket.

 We have a God that breaks out, a God that changes situations. The realities of our situations change in light of God, with whom all things are possible. We can’t contain the spirit of God. He can’t be put in a pocket and used for our comfort whenever we need him. Baal-perazim. God breaks out. 

But…If we resolve to keep Jesus out of the way, metaphorically ‘in our pockets,’ are we going to see these same breakthroughs? I’d like to say yes – not even our resolve can hinder God. However, the truth is that if we want to see God truly move in our lives we have to get out of the way. Which leaves us with this question:

God is ready to Baal-perazim, to break out. But are you ready for him to do so?