Proverbs 21.30-31
There is no wisdom, no insight that can succeed against the LORD. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.
Victory for the believer is both now and at the end of life.
Paul wrote to Timothy, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." II Timothy 4.7
Some scholars believe he wrote this on the eve of his death by the sword.
I am sure John saw Paul among the number when he wrote about 25-30 years later in Revelation 6.9 "When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the testimony they had maintained." As well as the 150,00 who die each year in the world. I am sure he saw the Coptic Christians who died this spring, and the many beheaded by ISIS and the Syrian Christians in that mass of refugees that are fleeing the war in their country.
Jesus knew the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to His Father. John 13.1
Later that evening as He looked toward Heaven He pray: Father the hour has come. I have given You glory on earth but finishing the work You gave Me to do.
I am coming to You now.
Peter wrote to the church in his second epistle, "I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our LORD Jesus Christ has made clear to me."
II Peter 1.13-14
We are in a life and death battle today, literally.
Jude wrote, "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints." v.3
I am feeling that way today. We are seeing a departure from the faith today.
We were told this would happen. I Timothy 4.1 "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons."
This message is about the spiritual battle we are in, the good fight of the faith.
We are urged by Paul the Apostle, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6.9
He is talking about living by the Spirit. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Each soldier was responsible for his own shield and sword, much like today each soldier is responsible for his own gun. Swords were to be kept sharp and clean for their optimum use. The Word make us clean, it builds us up, it gives us a weapon to fight the enemy of our souls with. We need the Word!!! Each day. Satan tries to distract you with things. If he cannot get you to do evil he will get you distracted with good things to keep you from the Word. What?! Are you serious, Pastor? Read Israel's history. They are an example for us! Good land, many blessings, peace and they were warned to be careful not to forget God. (I Corinthians 10)
We need our memories refreshed by God's Word.
We need to fight the good fight of the faith. Our weapons are not of this world but of Heaven, of God's Spirit, of His Word.
II Corinthians 10:4
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."
What do these verses tell us?...
1. Nothing Can Win Against the LORD!
Romans 8.38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD.
We are in this battle to win and we can through Christ Jesus Our LORD.
Not even Satan Matthew 16.18
Jesus is building His Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
No weapon formed against us will stand. Isaiah 54.17
Jesus said, " Tear down this Temple and I will raise it in three days."
If we are in the work of the LORD we will have battles, spiritual battles. But as Nehemiah said when faced with his critics, "The God of Heaven will give us success." (Nehemiah 2.20)
If we can remember this truth we will be free from stress and anxiety and enjoy the journey so much more.
*Worry is a waste of time and energy. It wears us out.
*Fear is as well. Perfect loves casts it out. That quiet trust in the LORD and what He has said in His Word.
We ought to be praying, "LORD, open his eyes," when far too often we are asking, "O my lord, what shall we do?"
II Kings 6.8-17
We ought to be taking into account more of the invisible as we grow closer to the LORD and get closer to heaven.
God's Hand upon us!
He will give us victory.
2. We must not look to our own strength or resources.
This is so tempting! We inventory what we have and often decide for less than, a lot less than God's will!
Notice Jude did not say to defend the faith, rather contend earnestly for the faith. I think too often because we do not know the LORD as well as we think we do we settle for much less than He has for us. We are defending when we ought to be contending.
I have seen decisions made because of the lack of faith and it is not pretty. It may be "safe"but so often it spells out the end.
A horse, mighty animal, that can be trained for battle and do well.
The kings of Israel had specific instructions for horses!
Deuteronomy 17. 16 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.”
Don't look at what you don't or do have. Look to the LORD.
What is in your hand? Both Moses and David understood this because they were in God's Hands.
I explained in the Bible Studies this week why they were not to build up the cavalry. The people would see this and feel safe. Their trust would not be in the LORD.
3. We Will Win Our Battles Through Christ Jesus.
He has already won the war!
We face many battles.
*Temptation
*Faith Challenges
*Inadequacy
*Attacks (not as many as we think)
Psalm 105.16-19 till the Word of the LORD proved him true.
Sometimes we simply have to wait until the Word of the LORD proves us true!
Here on earth.
There in heaven when the true motives of everyone's hearts are revealed.
Prayer and His Word are indispensable to winning these battles!
Victory rests with the LORD!
1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment