Who Is On The Lord's Side by Apostle Joshua Selman: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

A Question That Determines Relevance

We are living in very prophetic times that require discernment — times requiring, like the sons of Issachar, an understanding of what the Lord is demanding from the saints as far as his end-time programme is concerned. The word of God comes to enlighten, to empower, to give wisdom. God's method has always been his word. If you ignore the word of God, you have ignored potential for growth, potential for excellence, potential for a life of victory and relevance.

The answer to this question will determine our relevance even in the days to come.

Exodus 32:26: Moses stood at the gate of the camp and said, "Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come unto me." And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

Joshua 24:15: "If it seems evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

We live in a world where people vacillate their convictions. At the slightest communication of pain or disappointment or setback, people seem to have a new orientation as to how they want to live spiritually. Many have cursed God to his face simply because of one sad event. There is economic hardship across nations, and people are beginning to doubt their convictions. People who were once on fire for God seem cold and indifferent. Even former pastors and missionaries are saying this God thing does not seem to work. This message comes as a wakeup call — a very strong call bringing us to a point where we re-examine by the Spirit where we stand, especially in light of the days now before us.

The Implications of Being on the Lord's Side

1. The Lord's Side Is the Side of Protection and Preservation

   Psalm 63:8: "My soul followeth hard after thee. Thy right hand upholdeth me."

   John 17:12: "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name. Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost."

   2 Timothy 1:12: "For which things' cause I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

   There is no amount of physical security that is enough to protect an individual from the spiritual, emotional, and physical harm that plagues our society. We have seen people attacked with the most sophisticated security architecture. The psalmist speaks of the arrows that fly by day, the noisome pestilence by night, the destruction that wastes at noonday.

   The Lord's side means immunity against the wickedness and the mayhem that plagues our world. The name of the Lord is a strong tower — the righteous run to it and are saved. Some trust in horses and chariots, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God.

   The higher you rise in life, the more you must understand the mystery of preservation. The days that are coming will require supernatural protection. At the moment someone begins to rise from a family, wicked spirits come to stop the ascent. I have no covenant with death, with destruction, with necromancy or the invocation of dark powers.

   No power, no enchantment, no charm will walk over my life. In the name of Jesus, I declare that I am on the Lord's side. They shall gather, but their gathering is not of God. There is a mysterious force that will scatter them. I declare a prayer covering over my children, over my ministry. I will not be the victim of the wickedness of men — immune by the jealousy and the preserving power of Elohim.

   I have no covenant with death. I have no covenant with destruction. I have no covenant with necromancing and invocation of dark powers, activities of familiar spirits.

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2. The Lord's Side Is the Side of Power

   Jeremiah 32:17: "Ah Lord God, thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power." If God needed power to make the heavens and the earth, it would take power to make anything in your life — including the future that you desire.

   The disciples had knowledge. But Jesus said: wait — tarry until you are endued with power. Knowledge alone will fail you.

   Doing ministry in this end time without securing power, doing business without securing power — you will be a casualty. It takes power to be wealthy and retain wealth. It takes power to raise children with the wicked options that plague our world.

   Who is on the Lord's side means who is interested in accessing power to remain, power to continue, power to subdue.

3. The Lord's Side Is the Side of Victory

   "The shouts of joy and victory shall not depart from the tent of the righteous." Now, thanks be to God who causes us always to triumph.

   For the believer in Christ, challenges are not unusual. It is defeat that is unusual. It is not unusual to be challenged in your health, your finances, your marriage, your children. Did your Bible not say many are the afflictions of the righteous? But the Lord delivers him from them all.

   So the moment you find yourself in a disturbing situation, before you try to manage it — verify which side you are standing on.

4. The Lord's Side Is the Side of Joy and Pleasure

   Psalm 16:11: "Thou wilt show me the path of life. In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore."

   If you are not in his presence, not at his right hand, you will not see joy and you will not see pleasure.

   There are people in this season who in the midst of lack, in the midst of economic turmoil, God will place garments of honour upon them. People will marvel and say, "There is famine in Samaria. How come these people are enjoying abundance?"

   "Heretofore you have asked for nothing. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:24.

   Which of you, the Bible says in Matthew 7:7-11, whose father gives a stone when asked for bread, or a serpent when asked for fish? If you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Ghost to them that ask him?

   You will live a very sad and defeated life by every definition if you reject the Lord's side. Technology has his side, culture has his side, the devil directly has his side, experience also has his side. But those who will win in this time are those who choose the Lord's side. For the way of the Lord is the way of wisdom.

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Apostle Joshua Selman
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5. The Lord's Side Is the Side of Rest Roundabout

   Matthew 11:28: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." He never said "I will give you a job." He said "I will give you rest." Whatever it is that will put you in a state of rest — including things you do not even know you need — when you come to him, he gives you more than what you ask for.

   Genesis 24:1: "And Abraham was old and well stricken in age, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things." All things. Rest roundabout.

   There are people who chose to be on the Lord's side and many things were not yet working — their marriages, finances, children. But they were determined to stay. And eventually, Isaac came for Sarah, Samuel came for Anna, Gideon became a warrior, Joseph became a king, Daniel became one of the presidents.

   When you choose the Lord's side, it may have a momentary discomfort. But there will come a day when they look at you and your children are well-behaved because there is a covenant that keeps them in the way of the Lord. You are wealthy and yet your children are not lawless. And they ask you what you did. You will tell them: I had an option to fast-track my life and destroy it, but I made up my mind to choose the Lord's side.

   There are times it looks stupid to be on the Lord's side. But the Lord's side is the side of rest roundabout.

Who Is on the Lord's Side?

Let me describe six kinds of people who are on the Lord's side so that you will know whether you are there or not.

1. One Who Has Received the Free Gift of Forgiveness and Eternal Life Through Jesus

   John 1:12: "But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."

   Romans 5:1-2: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we also have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand."

   You cannot be on the Lord's side if you have rejected Jesus. This is not an issue of fanaticism. It is not just an issue of altar call. It is not even just an issue of being a Christian. This is a call to a functional relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

   1 John 5:11-12: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." The word life is the Greek word zoe — the life of God.

   Apostle, how do I know I am on the Lord's side? Check whether you have obtained willfully and consciously forgiveness of sins. The Bible says for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God — our righteousness are as filthy rags. But Jesus comes as an expression of love: rather than you doing the death yourself, he will take that death upon himself and die it for you. If you believe in that substitutionary sacrifice, the first thing you are granted is forgiveness of sins by atonement. The second is access to his life.

   Romans 10:9-10: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

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2. One Who Has Chosen to Honor the Leadership of the Holy Spirit

   Romans 8:9: "Ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

   Romans 8:14-17: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs — heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ."

   How do I know I am on the Lord's side? By the degree of submission to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

3. One Who Has Chosen to Submit to the Supremacy of the Word of God in All Matters

   The supremacy of the word of God means it takes preeminence in all and every matter of your life. This is one of the characteristic definitions of a Christian — one who has submitted to the authority and supremacy of the word of God. The direction of the word of God is where you go.

   You are spiritually mature to the degree to which you have allowed the word of God to govern your life — your life is totally under the influence of the word of God.

4. One Who Has Chosen to Live a Life of Consecration and Sacrifice

   2 Corinthians 6:14-18: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers... Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord. And touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters."

   For many believers, consecration only means coming out of a life of sin. But I have taught that consecration is beyond the issue of sin. There are many things that are not sinful and evil that you will still need to come out of. Consecration is the constraining power to honour and keep your call, your mantle, your mandate. So there are many people who are not sinful but who are not consecrated.

   One characteristic feature of consecration is that you cannot say yes to everything — including good things. All things are lawful, but not all things are expedient.

   Every call and every anointing has a consecration that protects it. If you are Samson, beware of your hair. If you are Elijah, beware of your prayer life. It is not just enough to say, "I want a double portion." If you receive a man's anointing and do not study the consecration that keeps it, you will lose it.

   There are times God asks you to make what seem like ridiculous sacrifices. It is not that he wants the money or the car. He is doing something to you — breaking a hold. When you die to yourself, he comes to resurrect you by himself, so that anything he gives you is truly his own. For as long as you are still using God to build an empire, for as long as you are using the name of Jesus like a bribe to build a reputation for yourself — those who truly walk in this will know what I am saying.

   When everything in your life remains his own in experience, you will lay up gold as dust.

5. One Who Has Chosen to Be an Active Part of God's Kingdom Advancement and End-Time Agenda

   Isaiah 6:8: "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me."

   Kingdom advancement refers to every scriptural mechanism deployed to enthrone Christ and his purposes — first in the hearts of men, then across every strata of human activities. The kingdom advancement agenda is three-fold:

   • World evangelisation — saving the lost
   • Equipping of the saints — the church is God's battle axe
   • Transformation of society — equipped saints penetrate systems and structures

   Every one of us has a role. What you call your purpose is simply the role you have to play in that big picture. You will never find true fulfilment until you find it. For some, the assignment is to be a financial apostle — to rise, understand the kingdom's economic system, become truly wealthy, and then get to work. For others, the five-fold ministry. For others, to excel in a career and rise to a position of influence. But by all means, you must find out the role you have to play.

   An excellent spirit is what branded Daniel. If you are Daniel, prayer is your personal affair that secures you, but what the nation recognises you for is your intelligence and excellence.

6. One Who Has Chosen to Walk in Humility as a Lifestyle

   James 4:6: "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

   To resist means to push away, to stop from coming close or making progress. The moment God begins to lift you — financially, in business, in ministry — be intentional about remaining humble. One of the greatest ways to remain on the Lord's side is humility.

   Philemon 1:6: "That the communication of thy faith might become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." It is not humility to refuse to acknowledge what God has done. If God has blessed you, he has blessed you. But humility is where all the praises come to you and you lift it up and give the glory to him. That is the quality of true humility.

   Humility is a retainer of honour. When you practise humility, you retain your honour. Pride is one of the fastest ways of losing anything God gives you.

   Whenever he lifts you, he lifts you so that he can be seen through you. When you learn to decrease so that he will increase, the reward is that you are lifted higher so that you will lift him higher.

   For every level of influence and grace God grants — if it will not let the nations see him in your life, do not take me there. That is a sincere prayer. The blessing of the Lord does not sponsor carelessness. We are disciplined people with a kingdom sense and a vision for national transformation.