We Came. We Saw. We Conquered.
I Raise a Hallelujah! Oh, yes, I do! Oh, yes, we do! Veni, vidi, vici – the Latin for “I came; I saw; I conquered” – attributed to Julius Caesar who used the phrase in a letter to the Roman Senate in 47 BC after he had won a quick victory in his short war against Pharnaces II at the Battle of Zela. The phrase is used to refer to a swift, conclusive victor. And, it was also used after the 17th-century Battle of Vienna, saying “Venimus, Vidimus, Deus vici”t (“We came, We saw, God conquered”). Our victory was also a swift, conclusive victory! Hallelujah!
I like that last one the best: “God conquered”! All praise and honor and glory be to Him for the incredibly powerful, and truly God-orchestrated, last couple of weeks. As a team who came, who saw and put full-on gusto of prayer, intercession AND really hard work into the sale of my children’s home, getting the move and closing in before the end-of-the-year – was a WIN of mammoth proportions. “Through our God, we shall do valiantly. It is He Who will tread down our enemies.” (Psalm 60:12)
I won’t go into the ups and downs of accomplishing this task, but I will give credit to where credit is due – and that is our little team of just a few who wouldn’t think negatively or yield to the temptation of speaking negatively either. We just dove in with relentless ambition and audacious faith in the power of the Holy Spirit Who gives us the power we need at times like this.
“Praise God! Hallelujah!” That’s what I said Thursday night when I shut the door to the thoroughly cleaned out, beautiful home that looked so different years ago when my kids moved in. It was dated, was in disrepair in many areas – and they did a makeover — that would entice women and men to come and open up their hearts to the love of this family and to the love of God. Oh, the lives that were changed in this home. Oh the blessings of inspired faith and relentless hope and great expectations for tomorrow. Halleluljah!
Over 50 million people have now watched a YouTube clip of unsuspecting shoppers who get a surprise while eating lunch. A young woman, seemingly enjoying her lunch in a food court, stands up. She appears to be on her mobile phone. She begins singing the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. All around her, over 100 (clearly prearranged) opera singers stand one by one and join in. I got holy goosebumps when I watched it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
“Messiah” is George Frederick Handel’s most famous work. It tells the story of Jesus – the Messiah. Part Two is about His death on the cross, His resurrection and His ascension into heaven. It ends with the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. In the spring of 1742, King George II rose to his feet as the first notes of the triumphant ‘Hallelujah’ chorus rang out. Royal protocol has always demanded that, whenever the monarch stands, so too does everyone in the monarch’s presence. Thus, the entire audience and orchestra stood. King George II had accepted that he, too, was subject to the Lord of lords and King of kings.
The word ‘Hallelujah’ is an invitation to worship – it literally means ‘Praise (Hallal) the Lord’ (Yahweh). It occurs twenty-four times in the Old Testament (mainly in the Psalms) and it occurs four times in the New Testament.
And it occurred for us when we had plowed through the obstacles, the season, the traditions, AND, this move at Christmas that will take my family into 2020 with freedom, gusto, and many others being touched by He Who conquers – and many times – conquers by using the frailties of human beings to prove His strength is made perfect in our weakness. So, today,
I raise a hallelujah in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me
I’m gonna’ sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna’ hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
(From Bethel Music, I Raise a Hallelujah) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2XtRuPfaAU