1 Chronicles 14:8-17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them. Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You give them into my hand?” Then the Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will give them into your hand.” So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place Baal-perazim. They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order and they were burned with fire.
We are in a battle today. It is Jerusalem against Babylon. It is the Kingdom of God versus the kingdom of this world, it is a battle in the spiritual realm. It is good against evil, Light against darkness. Righteousness against sin. Holiness against wickedness.
We have to come face to face with our adversary at times.
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
We should never attempt to deal with the enemy without looking to Jesus.
We dare not face the battle without the LORD with us, directing us. We are soldiers in His Army. He is our heavenly commander.
God brings us along and in His time we face battles. He has given us all we need to equip ourselves (Ephesians 6). To run from the battle could mean we are running from His will and protection, like Jonah.
Here is where many struggle and fall- they try to resolve conflict without seeing the spiritual nature of it. We can get so pragmatic that we usher the LORD right out of our considerations.
David refused to do that. As experienced as he was in warfare, and he was a champion, he realized that the battle belongs to the LORD, that He needed God's help and His direction and that victory would come no other way.
So here is how we win the battles, staying in the battle...
1. Seeking the LORD on how to respond to the enemy is wise.
David sought the mind of the LORD as he confronted his old enemies.
He did not assume what worked once will work again. We cannot repeat spiritual moments. How often we try to do that. God works and it is obvious. Then we try and have the same thing happen a little later. We are presuming upon the LORD. We must realize that reality does not repeat. Manna was fresh every morning and the LORD needs to be sought on each venture.
Depending on past victories is a good way to guarantee future defeats.
So many times the step of really inquiring of the LORD is skipped and we assume that God is in a box. He will not be put into one. David was putting into practice now what we had spoken about last week. He inquired of the LORD.
I believe that you can ask God direct questions and start listening and start getting direct answers. David was asking direct questions. God began to give him direct answers and guiding him.
O LORD I am so concerned about the need of $4,000 to get this retaining wall up at least 3 feet inn Haiti before the rainy season starts. Please help us O LORD! Adly goes this this week with the money in hand to do this work.
How are we going to attack this? So many things are enemies of our faith. Obstacles. But I know if You tell me what to do it will be done.
David inquired of God: As David sought God and looked to Him for guidance he was blessed. God honored David's dependence on Him and gave him the promise of victory.
LORD, should I go up against the Philistines?
David had defeated them in this valley before however when they came a second time against David, David did not go up to fight them, without enquiring of the LORD again.
Let's learn from David. Take no steps without inquiring of the LORD. In our spiritual battles inquire of Him, consult, get direction then follow it. This is wisdom.
So often what we need is contained plainly in the Word of God. Inquiring of Him means to read His Word, Pray, Read His Word. So many time He directs us from His Word.
Obey Him... Brother Andrew... Going to church in Czechoslovakia... 1955... Nothing to bring... The remarks to him how blessed they were to have him there, showing them they were connected to the Body of Christ and that the believers in Western Europe cared.
2. Listening to the LORD is always the best path.
Let the sound of the going in the tops of the mulberry trees direct us to attend God's motions both in His providence and in the influences of His Spirit. When we realize that God has gone before us let us put on our armor and prepare for action and follow Him.
I have seen people attempt to fight battles without the LORD. Trying to do the work of God is the power of the flesh is never a pretty sight. Leaning on one's own understanding is foolhardy1 It is a sure way to shipwreck!
This is in all our ways acknowledging Him.
in our distress to flying to Him,
when people sin against us to appeal to Him,
when we do not know what to do,
It is inquiring of the LORD from His Word
to put ourselves under His direction,
To petition Him to show us the right way
God will direct us in battle if we look to Him.
When we come to the place where realize it is not our cleverness, it is not our ingenuity, our plans but we surrender to the LORD, then He will open the doors for us in His time which is always perfect.
David had learned how to listen. He had time as a shepherd to think and pray and be still before the LORD.
He wrote:
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
In another Psalm, the Psalmist writes:
Psalm 85:8 I will listen to what God the LORD says; He promises peace to His people, His faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly.
It is folly to try and fight battles for Him without consulting Him.
3. Giving God the Praise for Battles Won is Right.
They left their gods there: The Philistines brought their idols to the battle, thinking they would help defeat the Israelites. Because David inquired of God and obeyed God, they burned the Philistine idols.
David was not culturally sensitive to the Philistines. They were false gods and he got rid of them! He didn't need cultural education or sensitivity training enlightenment.
In a move of God's Spirit people abandon their gods. When they come to Christ they tear the idols from their hearts and lives.
Let David's success encourage us to resist our spiritual enemies, in following Divine directions and dependence on Divine strength. Resist the devil, and he will flee as the Philistines did before David
Let David's burning the gods of the Philistines, when they fell into his hands, teach us a holy indignation against idolatry and all the remains of it. Let David's thankful acknowledgment of the hand of God in his successes direct us to bring all our sacrifices of praise to God's altar.
We ought to offer a sacrifice of praise when a spiritual battle is won. When God answers prayer we ought to give Him praise and thanks. When the enemy is defeated we should give shouts of joy from our heart to the LORD God Almighty.
Not unto us, O Lord! not unto us, but to Thy name give glory. Let the reputation which David obtained, not only in his kingdom, but among his neighbors, be looked upon as a type and figure of the exalted honour of the Son of David (v. 17): The fame of David went out into all lands; he was generally talked of, and admired by all people, and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations. All looked upon him as a formidable enemy and a desirable ally. Thus has God highly exalted our Redeemer, and given Him a name above all others.
Romans 8:31-37 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, Who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:“For Your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
No comments:
Post a Comment