"Search And Replace"  (1 Sam.17; James 4:7-12; Acts 19:8-12; 16:16-40; Neh 6:10-14; Hosea 11:10-11; Amos 3:8-10)

“Search and replace” – your word tonight for us
Was good to hear – rich, layered text it was,
About David’s day; about that Philistine;
He with his sling, word under everything.

The problem’s not the enemy itself,
Herself, or him – it matters not, for stealth
Is essence of old “you-know-who” – I mean,
“Father of lies” gets us his way to lean.

“Search and replace God’s word to you”; his way?
“Take words of faith, hope, love, and joy” each day;
Left with no promises of God he knows,
We’ve not a hope as on our way we go.

Just like at first – “Eat this, you’ll wisdom gain”;
“It’s good to eat, God’s just a royal pain” –
“You will not die, but rather like God be;
You can proclaim what lives and dies – like He.”

Such lies we hear, they flatter so we eat;
Becoming truth to us – such “truth” we greet;
It makes us center of our little worlds;
Boy-slayers all – eight feet – “mere stone he whirls”.

But we don’t comprehend the way God acts –
First David spoke God’s word – base of God’s acts;
God watches to perform the words we speak;
Words which are His, He does, we run to meet –

Goliaths large and a fearsome to our gaze,
Like bears and lions – run there, be amazed;
God’s there performing words we say of His –
We are the means He uses in His biz.

“Shortly” He puts old Satan ’neath your feet;
If you’ve no word, then get one “toot-de-sweet”;
“Gone!?” To the tomb John ran full speed in hope –
Eagles we are, not ostriches (or dopes).

Cities cry out with roars, upsetting ways
Long-time established – here, where evil plays;
Rulers object, “You’ve turned things down side up;
Get out of here, our ways are good enough!”

Satan just wants the word God's planted there;
You are just trash to him, he does not care;
“Search and replace” God’s word within you’ve heard
With lies, which state reverse of all God’s words.

“Downside is up; and black is white for you”;
“There is no hope – you’re right when you are blue”;
“There is no God, the centerfold of life
Is you – the mirror’s image is quite right”.

Problem is not with Satan, but with you –
You hear his words, and take them for the truth;
Search and replace – completed in the end
By you yourself – legions he need not send.

“Resist”, “rebuke”, “stand firm”, “run to the roar”;
Don’t leave the field, behind you comes God’s roar,
Like Narnia, the lion stocks behind
Girl with the pen-knife – lion in our mind.

Lion meets lion – give a place for Him;
Do “this and that” so He can work begin;
You are no match for father of all lies;
Rest in God’s word to you – then Satan’s flies.

Just like the rain, God’s Word does not return
Empty to Him – but here’s what we must learn –
Search and replace is tactic number one –
Just laugh it off, then speak words of God’s Son.

That gives God room to work – some words to play
Out in our lives, or those of day to day;
Open your hearts to words God has for you –
Search and replace – for God works that way too.

Thanks Lord for this.

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