April 3, 2020 CALLED TO CONQUER
Daniel 11:32b “…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”
Joshua 14:11-12a “I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. Now then, give me this hill country about which the Lord spoke on that day,”
2 Corinthians 10:4 “for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.”
From my perspective, as a culture, it seems we have diminished the idea of conquering and have retreated to a position of compromise and complacency, and acceptance of things as they are. The idea of fighting or going to war is frowned upon by many who say we must live in peace and let people do as they please, and live without moral absolutes. Many believe that God is a God of love, and He is that; but He is also a God who wars against His enemies and is all about His people conquering and overcoming just as He does. In the Old Testament, the people of God were constantly engaged in physical wars and struggles that was a foreshadow or picture of the spiritual battles we are engaged in under the New Covenant. Today, if we are engaged, we are constantly having to battle with philosophies and beliefs that are contrary to the truth of the scriptures; we are bombarded continually with lies-and sometime the lies we hear sound reasonable and good. Many things that are now commonly accepted in our culture are in extreme contradiction to the clear teachings of God’s word. As Chester Puller (a famous US Marine) once said when surrounded by the enemy “We can now fight in any direction.” So it is with us. However, we do not fight alone or in our own strength-but we do fight! As believers, we must stand for truth at all cost; we must expose the lies that would defeat us and our loved ones; a lot is at stake. The first battle we must engage in is a personal battle; we must examine our own beliefs and our actions to make sure we are spiritually healthy and ready for battle. Next, we must realize that we have been called to the front lines to fight for the truth. We must proclaim as well as demonstrate that God is able to deliver His people from all that binds them and all that defeats them, whether it be depression, anxiety, fear, harmful addictions, bad attitudes, disappointments, unbelief, and a mindset of giving up on life. God has called us AND equipped us to be ones who bring the good news to those who have been taken prisoners by the lies of the culture. The battles we face are primarily spiritual battles, but I believe that there is a physical battle that comes in to play as well; I think there is a connection between the spiritual and the physical-mainly, the spiritual affects the physical. (Sorry I am rambling a little-there is a lot I want to say.) One thing that greatly disturbs me is the ‘de-masculinity’ of men. There is a need for men to step in to their role as men who love God, who protect and provide for those around them, who are strong but yet gentle and kind, and who serve. God designed the woman and the man with unique strengths and abilities; the culture, and the children, suffer when we ignore the basic design of the woman and the man. (Sorry, more rambling.) I’m just trying to say, know that we are in a battle, know that God has equipped us, and know that we are called to action. To be sedentary is not God’s idea for us. Go ahead and do a few exploits; scale that mountain; take the enemy out; expose the darkness and the lies! If you know God personally, then you are called to be an overcomer in life-there is no escaping that fact. Remember, we win the fight only as we fight in His strength.
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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