Daily Battle

As I mentioned some weeks back, we are having the incredible privilege to have Bible Institute classes at our church.  Each session is absolutely packed with Biblical insight and wisdom.  A couple weeks back, we talked about the Presence of God and it has stayed on my mind.  Perhaps that is because it has been a time in my life when I so needed the presence of God.  Sometimes it feels like life has lots of battles and sometimes it is downright war.   Lately it has definitely been more of a war. Which is odd, since it has also been such an incredible time of learning and leaning on the Lord.  But that lesson based on the Israelite's journey in the wilderness teaches this truth.  God never said that we would not have difficulties, be hungry, have health issues, or even fight against a much more powerful enemy.  Let's face it, even the most basic of relationships are difficult in this fallen world.  However, what He did promise is that if we follow the Holy Spirits leading in our life . . . WE WILL WIN THE BATTLE!!! Woo Hoo!

In some ways, I envy the Israelites.  Can you imagine being able to follow a visible sign from God? They went where the cloud went.  The cloud moved they moved and if the cloud stopped they stopped.  To me in my limited thinking, that seems simple.  Oh how I long for simple.  But truth is that we make it much harder than it need be.  God gave us something much greater than a cloud.  He gave us Himself!

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." Galatians 5:16

Ephesians 5:17-18 goes so far as to tell us to be intoxicated with the Spirit.  As Christians, this should be something that we understand. Yet, I fear based on some of my own history that is often not the case.  Matthew 12: 31-32, truly convicts on this:

"Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."

But there is more! When the Israelite marched, they did so in a certain formation.  You might think that they did so to protect certain people or things.  Perhaps especially the Ark of the Covenant.  But guess what? The Arc of the Covenant was in front!  The war was not a physical war but rather a spiritual war.  With God first. . . they could not loose!  Any battle they lost was because they failed to put God first and trust in Him. Sound familiar? It is the same with us.  If God is first, then we cannot loose!!!  That sounds really comforting.

 

Numbers 10:35-36 says "And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, "Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you." And when it rested, he said, "Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel."

I don't want to be like the first generation who lost the Holy War but rather I want to watch the walls come tumbling down. How about you? We don't need the Arc of Covenant because God sent a helper to us. His precious Holy Spirit lives within every Christian.  So many of us fail to hear because we have quenched the Spirit. But it is there if you are a Christian.  My prayer is that I will never again miss the leading of the Spirit but be finely tuned in.  For when He goes first, every battle is already WON!