How many times has the eternal God our Father come through for you? I mean how many times has He saved the day that was completely disintegrating? Everything God does is great but there are those glorious times that He delivers us from seemingly hopeless situations when we’re at our wits end, when we’ve lost someone precious, when our diagnosis is frightful, when we’re crushed in spirit and discouraged, when a relationship is on the rocks, when we’re stressed out and just an emotional wreck or when there seems to be no way out. If you’ve ever been in any of these predicaments or in similar situations where God has brought you back from the brink of destruction then, oh my Lord, you have a spectacular testimony! And didn't you feel like Moses’ sister Miriam when they escaped annihilation from Pharaoh’s army after God opened up the Rea Sea for them to cross when she said, “…Sing ye to the LORD, for He hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.” (Exodus 15: 21)
Just think about it and tell me, what “horses and riders” has God thrown into the sea for you? What giant Philistine has He slain for you? What storm has He quieted for you? What demon has He sent fleeing for you? What provision has He made possible for you? What disaster has He prevented for you? Our God has done all of these things and so much more that all of the books in the world could not contain the number of wonderful acts He has performed for us. “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” (John 21: 25)
Yes, Jesus, who is our life, is everything to us. And as Miriam sang her song, we all have a song we can sing:
He's my rock, my sword, my shield He's my wheel in the middle of the wheel He's the lily of the valley He's the bright and morning star, Makes no difference what you say I'm goin' on my knees and pray, And I'm gonna wait, wait on my Jesus Till He comes.
That's right, sing your song of praise and give all the glory to God!
And again I say, PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD, for who He is and because it is He who fights our battles and gives us the victory. As Moses told the children of Israel at the Red Sea, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD,…” “The LORD shall fight for you…” (Exodus 14: 13-14) Again, forty years later, he would tell them as they prepared to possess the land of Canaan, “For the LORD your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (Deuteronomy 20: 4) And hundreds of years later when a multitude of Judah's enemies gathered to invade them, King Jehoshaphat, fearing the worst, proclaimed a national fast and led the people in prayer to God for their deliverance. As a result of their faith and humility, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one in the congregation who then prophesied, “Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20: 15 & 17)
This prophetic encouragement was right on time because the Lord was about to perform an incredible miracle that looked impossible to the human eye and seemed impossible to the human mind. But then, the people did something magnificent. At the height of their distress they all fell down and worshipped the Lord! What a novel idea, praising God in the middle of the storm! King Jehoshaphat went even further: “…he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for His mercy endureth for ever.” (2 Chronicles 20: 21) Building themselves up on their most holy faith, they believed what God said before they saw what God did! As Jesus told Thomas after His resurrection, “…because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20: 29) This is a great example and reminder for us to speak life and not death. To lean not to our own understanding but to claim our blessings and glorify God prior to the visible manifestation of His promises.
Because the people trusted God more than they feared man, this is what the Lord did for them: “And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.” (2 Chronicles 20: 22-25) ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! Not only did they not have to fight, but the Lord fought for them. He caused their enemies to destroy each other and then allowed His children to partake of the goods. So much so that it took three days to collect it all! Well said is the scripture “…the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.” (Proverbs 13: 22)
Where would we be if it had not been for the Lord on our side? And more importantly, where would we be if it were not for us being on the Lord’s side? And, if it is God who fights our battles, and God never loses, then the fight is already won. And if the fight is already won, then what fight is left? Let me tell you. The fight that's left is the one He told us to fight. And that is, the good fight of faith. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6: 12)
And so, dear ones, have faith, use your faith and ask God to increase that faith.
- Faith can sustain you and truly make you whole,
- And in grace through faith is the saving of your soul
- Faith may send you around a seemingly undesirable bend,
- But faith is so powerful it can bring you back again
- Faith is ever reliable and will speak through the Spirit,
- And faith wants you to believe but you have to want to hear it.
- Through faith you'll find sufficient strength to endure,
- But without faith it's impossible to please God, and that is for sure.
Just be certain that your faith is in God alone through His Son, Jesus Christ, and none other. Believe with all your heart that God has got you covered. And though we are not exempt from things happening in our lives, God will always be there for us throughout our lives. I direct your attention to 2 Kings 6: 14-17 where the king of Syria sent his army to capture the prophet Elisha and his servant: “Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; , and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” And so, beloved, when it looks like your enemy is trying to outflank you, just remember that it’s not you that’s surrounded, it’s them. God has promised, "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." (Isaiah 54: 17)
We know that the real battle is in the spirit realm but God will fight for you and defend you in this physical, temporal realm as well. And be advised that your battle can take on many forms. It may be to legitimately forgive someone, and not just to say it. It may be to confront and stop a bad habit, and not just make a token effort or make excuses. It could be to right a wrong you may have unintentionally been involved in, but worrying about the embarrassment that rectifying the situation may cause. Beloved ones, whatever it is or wherever it is, if God sends you then go. And go in faith. Then stand still and see the salvation of the Lord because, once again, the battle is not yours.
Finally, I leave you with two scriptures for your edification, motivation and inspiration:
PSALM 18
[1] I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. [2] The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. [3] I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Psalm 24
[1] The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
[2] For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. [3] Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in His holy place? [4] He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. [5] He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. [6] This is the generation of them that seek Him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. [7] Lift up your head, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. [8] Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. [9] Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
[10] Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.
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