THE LORD IS A WARRIOR

Exodus 15:3, “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.”  

     

It’s easy to find the joyful words after the victory is won; it’s another to maintain during the battle.  It’s important to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, it’s vital especially when we are encountering an attack.  Regardless if you have been saved for an hour or twenty years, eventually spiritual warfare will be encountered in your life.  As children of God we must be alert, prepared, and trust in the instructions of our Commander-Jesus Christ.  If you would follow along with me in Exodus 14:1-20, to learn some important battle strategies to prepare for warfare.  First, we must understand God has a plan for this battle.  God isn’t un-prepared, surprised of the enemy’s tactics, or sleeping.  God is working out a plan to bring victory in your life.  It doesn’t always make sense what’s happening, but God is placing you in perfect position to defeat you enemy.  According to Exodus 14:1-3, God counsels Moses to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol by the sea.  God reveals His purpose to Moses in powerful move: to confuse his enemy and to lure the enemy to believe we are powerless to attack.  Keep in mind, the children of Israel are in the middle of the desert with no weapons or protection.  Yet, it caused the enemy to march right into God’s trap!

Second, God truly knows how to destroy your enemy with a SECRET WEAPON.  If you haven’t discovered it already in Scripture, God knows our hearts perfectly even our enemies.  According to Exodus 14:4, “And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them.  God is aware of the enemy’s pursuit to destroy you-it’s revealed in the heart.  Our words will reveal our heart, it’s that simple.  It’s the quickest and surest way to reveal our level of faith in the battle.  If our faith is weak, we need the nourishment of God’s Word to stand.  Pharaoh’s desire was to place the children of Israel back into bondage.  It’s NEVER God’s desire for us to return to the way of the past or our weakness.  God doesn’t desire for us to walk in bondage but in the light!  We must be willing to trust in who God is and His power to rescue us.  God will never neglect to protect His children, but His plan will always REVEAL HIS GLORY.  God’s not only going to reveal His power to you; He will reveal it to your enemy.  God wants to reveal Himself to build your faith, show He can be trusted, and to bring about a fearful reverence. 

Thirdly, if we lose the battle; it doesn’t mean we lost the war.  God is in our midst even when the enemy savagely pursues us.  As the Egyptians boldly pursued the Israelite's with six hundred of the best chariots and more chariots with officials, they were overtaken. (Exodus 14:7-9) Our enemy will always use our physical circumstances to intimidate us to surrender.  Yet, our greatest weapon is our voice!  Satan wants us to remain silent, be fixed upon his power to attack us, and will place us in a powerless state-we will feel surrounded.  Nevertheless, our greatest weapon when we are encountering spiritual warfare is crying out to God!  When we look up; Satan will always fall.  A vital key to walking in victory is refusing to speak words of defeat, fear, and blaming others.  Sadly, the children of Israel attacked the leadership of Moses and God himself.  Yet, Moses taught the children of Israel a powerful strategy to defeat the enemy in Exodus 14:13-14.  Quit being afraid!  Stand firm in God’s Word so it will bring about the deliverance you need.  It’s only when we stand firm; the enemy can’t gain any ground.  God has provided the weapons, His protection, and His promise.  God hasn’t left you during the battle; He is standing in your midst.  He is just waiting for you to look to Him with confidence.