John Eckhardt - Momentum, the key to victory

Contents

Chapter 1

Momentum Brings Impact

T he greater the momentum of a thing, the greater the impact it will have once it reaches its destination. If the Lord's people are to have an IMPACT upon our cities and nation, we must be a people who understand and operate in MOMENTUM. An "impact" is a forceful contact or collision. There will always be a collision between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.

One of the best examples I can give concerning impact and momentum is that of a hurricane. A hurricane starts as a small storm hundreds of miles offshore in the ocean. As the storm approaches land, it picks up momentum. By the time it reaches land it has enough momentum to destroy everything in its path. The impact the storm has is a result of the increased momentum it picked up over hundreds of miles. What starts off as a small storm ends up as a killer hurricane.

This is also true of revivals and different moves of God. A move of God is sometimes typified by wind. It is the moving of the winds of the Spirit. They usually start with a small group of people and pick up momentum. The result can be millions swept into the kingdom of God over a period of time.

Another example of momentum is a sports team that wins a few games. Before long this team is on a winning streak. As the team wins, it picks up momentum. One of the hardest things to do is defeat a team that is on a winning streak. Because the team has momentum, it becomes harder to stop the winning streak. The rule in sports is the team that gets momentum is usually the team that wins. The key is to get and maintain momentum.

The Lord desires to give you momentum. It will carry you into realms of the spirit that you will never enter without it. Satan desires to stop your momentum. He knows that if you get momentum, you will have a greater impact on those around you. Churches that get momentum are churches that will impact their cities. The Body of Christ needs a revelation of how to get momentum, maintain it, and use it to our advantage to fulfill the great commission.

Increasing Your Momentum

And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his fathers sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.

David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

1 Samuel 17:33-37

One of the keys to getting momentum is to allow your victories to thrust you into greater momentum. David's previous victories gave him the momentum he needed to defeat Goliath. He rehearsed his victories over the lion and the bear before he went into battle against the giant. Each victory the Lord gives you increases your momentum. You should always go into battle with momentum from your previous victory.

Momentum builds your confidence. It increases your strength and skill for the next battle. True champions understand momentum. They know how to get it and maintain it to achieve victory. True leaders also understand the importance of momentum.

Great generals understand its importance in the field of battle. They know how to capitalize on their opponent's errors and gain momentum in battle. Once they gain momentum, they know how to use it to defeat their foes. Two of Israel's greatest generals were Joshua and David. They understood the place of momentum in warfare. Both used momentum to destroy their enemies.

Great Leaders Understand Momentum

I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.

Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.

Psalm 18:37 ,42

David knew how to get momentum and use it against the enemy. Once he got the upper hand, he pressed the battle and did not turn until he consumed his enemies. He did not stop with a slight victory, he rode his momentum until he slaughtered the enemy. David understood the importance of momentum.

Once the Lord gives you momentum, you must use it to your advantage. Don't stop after a slight victory. Continue until the enemy is ROUTED.

Once David had his enemies on the run, he pursued and overtook them. He consumed them and beat them "as the dust before the wind". He allowed nothing to stop his momentum. He knew his momentum came from the Lord. He knew that once the Lord gave it to him, he had to use it to fulfill His purpose.

There are too many of the Lord's people who stop after a victory. Instead of using that victory as momentum for the next battle, they relax and lose it. The period following a victory is not the time to relax. There are more battles to fight and victories to be won. There are Goliaths to be faced after you defeat your lion and your bear.

Be like David. Pursue, overtake, and consume the enemy! Be persistent and press the battle. Once the Lord gives you the upper hand, have no mercy on Satan and his demons. Use your momentum to your advantage.

Joshuas Momentum

Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon .

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher ? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.

Joshua 10:12-14

One of the greatest miracles recorded in the Word of God occurred on the field of battle. Joshua spoke and the Sun and Moon stayed. Joshua received an extra day to defeat his enemies. Joshua understood momentum. Once he saw the enemy's defeat, he would not allow the sun to go down. This miracle gave him the momentum he needed to destroy his enemies. Joshua did not allow darkness to come and stop his momentum. He kept it, by a miracle, to destroy the enemy.

Momentum, the Key to Victory

Candidates who get momentum win elections. One issue can give a candidate the momentum needed to win. Armies who get momentum win battles. One strategic advantage can give an army the momentum needed to win.

A Russian Winter Can Stop Your Momentum

Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany had momentum at the beginning of World War II. Through a battle plan called "blitzkrieg," they were able to invade countries through the element of surprise and win quick, easy victories. Germany was winning the war through momentum. However, the allies eventually stopped Hitler's momentum.

A turning point in World War II was the battle of Stalingrad in Russia. Temperatures plunged to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Troops lacked warm clothing and suffered frostbite. Tanks and weapons broke down. The Russian winter stopped Hitler's troops and over 300,000 were killed or captured. From that point, the momentum began to change and it was a matter of time before Hitler and Germany fell.

Napoleon's armies swept across Europe. Because of his momentum his armies were unstoppable. Ironically, his momentum was also stopped by a Russian winter when he decided to invade Moscow. Of the 600,000 men in