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.

WHEN FAITH AROSE TO ACTION

     

 When we accepted Jesus Christ into our lives; we accepted the invitation to walk by faith.  According to the Word, "The righteous shall walk by faith." It's a very exciting journey; it's a personal journey to walk with Jesus.  Yet, our walk with Jesus will not be the same as everyone else's.  Our journey and our departure on this earth will not be the same as anyone else's; it's our very own personal walk with Jesus.  We will all face hardships, trials, and tests but faith will not be true; unless it's tried.  

Hebrews 11:33-35 says, "who through faith CONQUERED kingdoms, ADMINISTRATED justice, and GAINED what was promised; who shut the mouth of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who because POWERFUL in battle and routed foreign armies.  Women received back their dead, raised to life again.  Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection."   

Regardless of where we walk; it's only conquered through faith.    

Romans 1:17 says, "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." 

If we truly want God to reveal His righteousness; it's found in His Word.  Faith isn't just the belief of taking God at His Word.  It's a living action-we move in response to it.  Sadly, so many people want to "claim" or "stand" on the Word but don't responded to it.  Your deeds and the words you speak will reveal what you believe.  James 2:18 says, not complemented by action, is dead.  So, can our faith be evident to the lives of others?  Absolutely!  " But someone will say, "I have faith and I have deeds."  "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds." James 2:18-19

"So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead." James 2:17.   

 Sadly, so many people don't encounter breakthrough or deliverance because they are un-willing to do what God's Word says.  Or truly believe what He said; fear has blocked there ability to see clearly.  We have allowed the wind to speak louder; than the voice of Jesus.  Faith will cause us to throw the stone towards the giant's head.  Jesus didn't ask Peter to dip his toe in the water.  He said, "Come." (Matthew 14:29)  

Peter didn't listen to how crazy it sounded?  Yes, it was a different experience!  Who ever walked on water?  Peter didn't have time to ask for counsel or from the expertise of others.  It was a personal invitation from Jesus!  Only Jesus and Peter were able to experience walking on water.  Yet, didn't all of the disciples hear the voice of Jesus?  We can choose to remain in our tradition, our fear, or we can walk towards the face of Jesus.  

 What is blocking your ability to see?  Fear is truly a power tool of the enemy to torment the mind; it's blocking faith to emerge.  In Matthew 14:22-31, only one person had a transforming life experience with Jesus ; while eleven watched it.  Jesus was preparing the disciples for a revelation of the Son of God; He was doing something different than expected-He walked on water.  Yet, all of the disciples were afraid or believed it was a ghost.  Sadly, they couldn't see through their fear who He was.  It was only when Jesus spoke; Peter's faith arose.  Jesus placed the disciples in the circumstance but only one got a true revelation!  Keep in mind, Jesus prayed before coming to the disciples.  So, it's a comforting thought, he was praying for them before this test.  Oh, I am so grateful Jesus is praying for me!  Yet, Jesus wants to speak directly to us about our fear.  He doesn't want us to remain in this state, He will speak words of comfort, "Take courage!  It is I.  Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, tell me to come to you on the water."  Jesus said, "Come."

It's the same invitation to us: will we come?  I don't want to remain in the boat with the others shaking in fear; I want to see Jesus, himself.  When we are walking through the un-familiar of life it feels so dark-but Jesus is still coming to our aid in the storm.  Jesus didn't leave the disciples to face the storm alone.  Jesus came to reveal Himself as the Son of God with truth, power, and assurance.  During this storm it's tempting to allow the wind to cause us alarm.  Yet, it was the voice of Jesus that arose the faith in Peter.  When Peter faced Jesus; he could walk towards Him.  But WHEN HE SAW the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sin, cried out, "Lord save me!"

  So, are you staring at the wind or the face of Jesus?  Both can move us but only one can save us!  Quit allowing fear to rob your life of new adventures, walking in what God has said , and tormenting your mind.  Quit trying to convince yourself of the impossible task in front of you.  Quite yourself in His love.  Allow Jesus to speak into your heart, so your faith will arise to action.