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How Do We Know That The Spiritual Battle Is Not Ours? Series
Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 7, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: When we face a battle where the enemy is fierce, how can we let God fight for us?
How do we fight when we see that an enemy is so great? How do we let go and not fight when we feel that we must? Our message today comes from during a time when Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, saw a great multitude come against him and the people of Judah. Jehoshaphat called to the people to get serious with God and fast. They were to consider their sins and pray. This would reinforce their penitence and remind them of their weakness and their need to depend on God.
The prayer had essential ingredients:
The prayer committed the situation to God. It acknowledged that only God could save them. The prayer sought God’s favor. It acknowledged God’s sovereignty. The prayer praised God’s glory. The people professed dependence upon God for deliverance and their prayer focused on God’s power and not their own.
As the enemy came at them, God spoke through the prophet:
As the adversary overwhelmed Judah, God talked through Jahaziel, “Be not afraid…for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). They were told to set themselves and to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. They were also told not to fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord would be with them (2 Chronicles 20:17).
In Exodus 14:13, “…fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord…” the people were antagonistic and hopeless, however Moses urged them to watch the formidable way that God would protect them. Moses had an uplifting perspective. At the point when they thought that may get caught, Moses called upon God to help them. We may not be pursued by a military force, however we might in any case feel as if we may get caught. Rather than yielding to surrender, we ought to embrace Moses' demeanor to be standing still and watch for the salvation of the Lord.
When David faced Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:45, 47, he said, “…but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts…for the battle is the Lord’s.”
• 2 Chronicles 32:7-8, “Be strong and courageous…but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles…”
When the Assyrian army invaded Judah, Hezekiah used his eyes of faith to see. The quantity of his adversaries made truly little difference as long as he was on the Lord's side. Triumph is “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Hezekiah could unhesitatingly energize his men since he felt undoubtedly sure about where he remained with God. Could it be said that we are on the Lord's side? We may never confront an adversarial armed force, however the struggles that we face consistently can be won with the strength of God.
How do we let God fight for us?
How would we allow God to battle for us? We do this by understanding that the fight is not our own, yet God's, by perceiving our human limitations, and by permitting God's solidarity to deal with our feelings of trepidation and shortcomings. We can ensure that we are seeking after God's inclinations and not just our own self-centered wants, and by asking God for help in our day-by-day struggles.
Although we may not battle an armed adversary force, we consistently fight against earthly temptations, and “rulers of the darkness of this world” (Ephesians 6:12) who want us to oppose God. Keep in mind, as Christians, we have the spirit of God within us. On the off chance that we request God's assistance when we are confronting spiritual battles, God will fight the battle for us. Furthermore, God always wins.
Every day we battle against temptations, pressures, and rulers of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6:12) that wants believers to rebel against God. Romans 7:15, ‘For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but that which I hate, that do I.’ We have God’s spirit within, and as we face struggles, He will fight for us if we ask.
• Psalms 5:11, “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”
Wherever and whatever the battle is within our lives, we should remember that he is with us always (Matthew 28:20). The Lord will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He is our light and salvation (Psalms 27:1). We are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might (Ephesians 6:10), and we must remember that all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28).