Paul accurately describes it this way:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. –Ephesians 6:12.

These rulers, powers and world forces are not politicians or evil governments. They are demons and Satan’s angels! These are behind all the wicked rulers of the world.

With this in mind, there is a scene from the Old Testament that gives us a glimpse into who fights for the believer. It’s the scene where Elisha prays and asks God to show his servant that there is nothing to fear one early morning.

The king of Aram sent out a large dispatch of horses and chariots to go and arrest Elisha and bring him back. They surrounded the village he was in during the night.

Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” –2 Kings 6:15-16.

This poor servant gets up and the first thing he sees is an army amassing on their position. He panics and asks Elisha what they should do. You get the feeling from Elisha’s response that he might have still been lying in bed peacefully without a care in the world.

He then says something really provocative: “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Who or what is he talking about?

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. –2 Kings 6:17.

Elisha was surrounded by the angels of God! Whether Elisha saw the horses and chariots before he asked God to reveal them to his servant isn’t clear. But that really isn’t the point. The fact is Elisha knew that it was God who watched over them and would fight this battle for them, in faith.

Paul also reminds us:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? –Romans 8:31.

I don’t mean to minimize the power of the demons and satanic angels. They are powerful. On your own, you are no match for them. But they are created beings and they are no match for the power of God.

I take great comfort in knowing that there are angels watching over my children. They stand guard over my family in the battle that I cannot see with my human eyes.

May He Increase!

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he gives reasons for suffering and tribulation. He begins his argument that when you become a Christian, you are justified before God through faith in Christ. This gives us the ultimate hope that we will be with Him for all eternity.

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. –Romans 5:3-5.

So the outline of this is:

1. Tribulation, which leads to …
2. Perseverance, which leads to …
3. Proven character, which leads to …
4. Hope.

It’s taken me nearly 40 years to learn this simple lesson. I’ll be honest. I think I just barely reached #2! The past few years have been hovering around tribulation. I’m not saying that I’ve arrived. I’m nowhere near that point. But God has brought me through a really tough period to where I can see points 2 and 3 which has given me a renewed hope.

What about you? Where are you on the scale? Does it fluctuate for you?

May He Increase!

HT: TrekLens

Would you say you are being stubborn and unrepentant towards God? Has He been tugging on your heart to come back to Him, but you have been ignoring that voice?

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. –Romans 2:4-8 (Emphasis mine.)

So, which is it? Eternal life or wrath and indignation?

(Hint: there is no middle of the road here.)

May He Increase!

Last time, we dug into the first portions of the prophecy that dealt with Jesus being our “horn of salvation.”

Today we look at the next two verses that deal with the salvation and mercy that was promised to us through God’s covenant.

Zacharias’ Prophecy – Part III: God’s Lovingkindness

“Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us; to show mercy toward our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant.” –Luke 1:71-72.

The first half of these verses was taken from the Psalms.

So He saved them from the hand of the one who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. –Psalm 106:10.

For a little background on this passage in Psalms–which will also lend itself to the prophecy in Luke–Psalm 106 calls to mind the sins of Israel after God lead them out of Egypt. The verses just prior to Psalm 106:10 specifically recall the sins of unbelief and the murmuring of the people at the Red Sea. Verse 10 says that in spite of the sins of the people, God still saved them and redeemed them!

And so it is with Jesus. Just as Paul says:

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. –Romans 5:8.

Christ is our salvation from our enemies: Satan, sin and death. Who hates you? That’s right: Satan does! He and all his demons. It’s the complete opposite of the love of God. The extent of God’s love for you and I is that Jesus died for all in whom there was nothing that evoked that love.

All of this is because of the covenant God made with Abraham so many thousands of years ago. We will expound on this more in depth next time around.

Have you reached a point in your life to stop running away from the One who loves you? If so, Jesus is waiting for you to call on Him! Don’t wait another day!

May He Increase!

The day before Thanksgiving, I received a phone call from the hiring manager I interviewed with a couple weeks previously. He made me a formal job offer. After a little over four months of being out of work, I had gotten the phone call I had been waiting for.

God was at work through it all. In fact, I also had a great opportunity to go back to work for a former employer. I had put all of my focus on that when I got the call to come in for an interview with the company the ended up hiring me. I even had an opportunity in September that was minutes away from my house, but I do not believe that is what God had for me. He had something better for me if I would just listen to his voice.

So, since Thanksgiving–how appropriate that God would allow the phone call the day before Thanksgiving–I have received the formal offer letter and have filled out all the requisite forms and went to the drug screening. Now it’s just a matter of the company confirming I am who I say I am. I will be showing up at the office on Monday, December 21. Praise God!

I never doubted that God had plans for us while I was in the unemployment wilderness. I knew that He had things to teach me and I did the best I could to learn those lessons. It was easier at some times than others.

Ironically, it wasn’t until this past Sunday that God gave me a passage that really opened my eyes to what I went through. It came from my pastor during service yesterday. He shared it as the key verse that helped him during a dark time in his ministry. And so, I would like to share it with you in case you find yourself in a dark place.

Why has my pain been perpetual and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive steam with water that is unreliable? –Jeremiah 15:18.

Sound familiar? Can you relate?

Therefore, thus says the Lord, “If you return, then I will restore you–before Me you will stand; and if you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman. They for their part may turn to you, but as for you, you must not turn to them.” –Jeremiah 15:19.

There’s the key: “If you return [to Me], then I will restore you.” How often will God send trials our way to get our attention so we draw closer to Him.

And then God gives Jeremiah a key lesson: “if you extract the precious from the worthless, you will become My spokesman.” If we go through dark times and learn nothing, then the trial and the lesson were worthless! Don’t squander an opportunity to listen to the voice of God when He is trying to teach you something!

“Then I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; and though they fight against you, they will not prevail over you; for I am with you to save you and deliver you,” declares the Lord. –Jeremiah 15:20.

The verse reminds me of Paul’s words to the Romans:

What then shall we say to these things? IF God is for us, who is against us? –Romans 8:31.

I know there are brothers and sisters-in-Christ struggling through trials right now: health, unemployment, finances, etc. But God is faithful! Return to Him; draw nearer to Him. Hold fast!

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good. –1 Thessalonians 4:21.

I’d like to open this up to prayer requests or sharing what you’re going through or to testify to what God has taught you through trials.