TEARS AND BROKENNESS IN VICTORIOUS WARFARE

Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5-6). FAITH'S WARFARE Tears in Scripture play a unique role in spiritual breakthrough. Here we discover that the planting of seeds accompanied by a spirit of brokenness will not only bring a spiritual harvest of results, but will leave the sower with a spirit of rejoicing in the process. This passage, along with numerous others in Scripture regarding a spirit of brokenness, pictures a variety of purposes and functions related to what might be termed "the ministry of tears," a ministry Charles H. Spurgeon defined as "liquid prayer." First, there are tears of sorrow and suffering: "Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD" (2 Kings 20:5). Second, there are tears of joy: "But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept" (Genesis 33:4). Third, there are tears of compassion: "Jesus wept" (John 11:35). Fourth, there are tears of desperation: "When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes" (Esther 4:1,3). Fifth, there are tears of travail, or giving birth: "I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in labour, I will pant and gasp at once" (Isaiah 42:14). Sixth, there are tears of repentance: "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm." (Joel 2:12,13). Passion in spiritual warfare is clearly needed! [New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2002].