“Time for Battle”

Ecclesiastes 3:7-8
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Often in battles, the enemy tries to use fear and intimidation tactics.
Sometimes, spiritual battles rage within the person. These battles are internal as the enemy tries to gain control of people’s hearts and minds.
We are constantly at war with our flesh. Things like guilt, fear, depression, discouragement, self-sufficiency, pride, jealousy, anger, resentment, and forgiveness get in the way all the time.
These are examples of the battles that we face with ourselves in our walk with God.

David and Goliath – 1 Samuel 17
Probably the best known battle in the Bible is when the shepherd boy David fought against the well trained soldier named Goliath. They met when David came to bring supplies to his brothers who were engaged in battle as soldiers with Israel against the Philistines. Goliath came to the front lines and declared that he would go one-on-one with anyone who dared to face him. Goliath challenged the veracity of the faith of Israel in their God. Goliath did not believe in Israel’s God and therefore mocked God because of the fear that the people had for Goliath (1 Samuel 17:8-11).

David took the challenge and prepared to fight Goliath. King Saul offered his royal armor to David for the battle. David said that he did not need those things to fight the giant. He would trust in the God of Israel who had saved him from attacks by a lion and a bear. This same God would save David from Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32-39).

David carefully chose five stones from a stream and charged towards Goliath. Goliath was amazed that such a young boy would come so bravely towards him. David fitted a stone in his sling and sent it towards Goliath. God guided the rock which struck Goliath between the eyes. David took the giant sword of the fallen warrior and cut of Goliath’s head (1 Samuel 17:40-51). The Philistines fled and Israel pursued. God won a great victory in Israel that day through the hand of a young man who trusted in his God.

That God will fight our battles means we do not have to anguish, be anxious, or be discouraged when bad things happen in our lives. When it seems a situation is hopeless or the matter at hand is too overwhelming, we may be tempted to doubt God. But Christians must remember that no problem is beyond the scope of God’s sovereign care for His children. He has promised to take care of us (Philippians 4:19), make good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and love us beyond measure (Romans 8:37–39).

In Exodus 14:14 Moses tells the children of Israel, “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” At that moment, they were standing at the edge of the Red Sea, hemmed in by the sea before them and the Egyptian army behind. The Israelites are in a seemingly impossible situation, but it was a situation brought on by the Lord Himself. It was God who had hardened Pharaoh’s heart to pursue the fleeing slaves (Exodus 14:4, 8). Why would God do such a thing? The Bible gives some of the reasons: because God wanted to make it crystal clear to Egypt that He is LORD so that He got the glory over Pharaoh (Exodus 14:4). And because God wanted to teach Israel that He is their Deliverer (Exodus 6:6) and their Salvation (Exodus 14:13). They were incapable of escaping the situation on their own—they needed only to wait for God to move on their behalf (cf. Psalm 27:14). The battle that appeared to be between the Egyptians and the Israelites was in reality between the Egyptians and the Lord (Exodus 14:4).

1. Preparation.
2. Acknowledge your enemy.
3. Victory awaits.

1. Preparation.
In life, you must always be ready for anything. Everybody must be ready for Jesus because He will come like a thief in the night. If everyone knew what time He was coming everybody would accept Him
Preparation in the Bible involves both physical readiness and cultivating a mindset of readiness1. God’s basic ingredient for growth is need2. Examples include David confronting Goliath and the wise virgins keeping their lamps ready.
1 Peter 3:15
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Luke 12:35
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.”

Jesus instructs His followers to be ready and vigilant, likening preparedness to a servant waiting for their master. Staying “dressed for action” implies a constant state of readiness and alertness, signifying that we should not become complacent in our spiritual lives. Keeping our lamps burning signifies maintaining our faith and good works, being ever-prepared to serve and honour God.

This verse calls us to live with a sense of urgency and anticipation, understanding that the time of our Master’s return is unknown. It encourages a lifestyle of vigilance and action, where we remain engaged in spiritual disciplines and acts of service, ready to respond

Proverbs 22:3
The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
Noah and the Ark (Genesis 6-7)
The story of Noah showcases his remarkable level of preparedness in the face of an impending catastrophic flood.

Not only did he diligently follow divine instructions to build the ark, but he also gathered and stored provisions for himself, his family, and the vast array of animals that would join him on this epic journey.

His foresight and meticulous planning allowed him to weather the storm and emerge as a symbol of resilience and faith.

Moreover, Noah’s preparedness can be seen as a lesson in proactive thinking and taking concrete steps to mitigate potential risks. In today’s world, where natural disasters and unexpected events are increasingly common, Noah’s story serves as a timeless reminder to stay ahead of challenges by making adequate preparations.

It encourages us to assess our level of readiness for whatever storms may come our way, inspiring us to take decisive action in securing our metaphorical arks against the uncertainties of life.

2. Acknowledge your enemy.

Proverbs 16:7
When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
he causes their enemies to make peace with them.
Matthew 5:43-45
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[a] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
The Bible teaches that the enemy of our soul is Satan, who has strategies and schemes to deceive and destroy us. The Bible also urges us to know our enemy and put on the full armor of God, so that we can resist his attacks and stand firm in our faith. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Like a general preparing his troops for the big battle, Paul stirs up the field-soldiers of faith with a vision of the larger picture. This is what the real battle is about, the true enemy. So often Christians struggle against the wrong thing or we stand firmly against the lesser things. Not that they are bad things, but we need to see clearly who or what is trying to destroy our faith.

Putting on the full armor of God begins with understanding what is really going on. Nothing worse than putting on your sports equipment before asking which game we are going to play. That hockey equipment is not much help if you are entering a swimming contest. We need to understand the nature of the ultimate enemy, and let that knowledge determine the kind of defenses we need.

For Christians the enemy is the devil, a real, personal entity. He goes by many names: Lucifer, Satan, the father of lies, the accuser of the brethren, Beelzebub. The enemy is not a neighbor who plays loud music, or the member of the board who always wants his own way. It is not cancer, or diabetes, or MS, or a congenital abnormality. It is not the drunk driver who takes your child’s life, the boss who fires you, or the Christian who opposes you.

Your sworn enemy is Satan and the forces at his disposal, and he has declared war on the people of God. His armies are not physical like an earthly army.

3. Victory awaits.

2 Corinthians 2:14
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.
Psalm 60:12
With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.
Not all the battles that Israel and God’s people fought ended in victory. It was only when they obeyed the Lord and trusted in God did they emerge victorious. In our own lives today we face battles. Not on a field with swords and spears, but in our hearts and minds.

We can only be victorious if we are obedient to what God has revealed to us. So many times people complain that they aren’t seeing victories in their lives, yet they ignore the fact that they are not being obedient. Or maybe they are trusting in the Lord today, but are suffering the consequences of past disobedience. We may have forgiveness of sins, but that does not mean that all the consequences will be taken away from us.
Victory ultimately belongs to the Lord our God (1 Samuel 17:47). Since the days of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt, whenever God’s people depended on Him alone, He gave them victory over their enemies (Exodus 15). Old Testament prophets consistently pointed to a future Savior who would bring the fullest expression of God’s triumph: “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9; see also Psalm 110:1). We know these prophecies refer to Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, who has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Jesus won the supreme victory at the cross. Sin was atoned for, and the power of sin and death was broken (see John 12:31 and 1 Peter 2:24). After Christ’s crucifixion and burial, He rose from the dead three days later, and now we share that victory. Satan thought he had won the ultimate contest with the death of Christ.
God wants us to live victorious Christian lives. But for us to win our daily battles we need to follow the One who leads us.
In summary, the Bible teaches that true and lasting victory is ultimately found in God and through faith in Jesus Christ. It encourages believers to trust in God’s power, acknowledging that victory results from divine intervention and reliance on the love and strength provided by the Lord.

1. Preparation.
2. Acknowledge your enemy.
3. Victory awaits.

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