Today's post picks up a series begun earlier by our guest writer, Lucas Ward.
We've been learning about God based on His names and self-descriptions. From a cursory look at His Name ( I AM -- YHWH or Jehovah, take your pick) and titles (God Most High, God Almighty, Everlasting God, etc.) one can quickly learn that He is a God who is a person, rather than an amorphous force, and He is present and active in our lives. In fact, His name is used whenever He wants to emphasize His covenantal relationship with His people. It is His signatory promise to be there for His people.
God also gives several self-descriptions which reveal quite a bit about Him. The God who has dealt wondrously for His people. And now, the God who fights for us.
Deut. 1:30 "Jehovah your God who goeth before you, he will fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes"
We are never told that the Christian life is going to be easy. Yes, Jesus says His yoke is easy and burden light (Matt. 11:30), but that is only in comparison to the Old Law. Jesus also says that we are blessed when we are persecuted for Him (Matt. 5:10-12, and that His disciples will be treated at least as badly as He was (John 15:20). Paul reiterates that in 2 Tim. 3:12 "Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Not only do we face persecution but we are told that Satan is prowling the earth like a lion stalking us and that we must stand up against him. (1 Pet. 5:8-9, James 4:7). It can all be a bit much, a bit too scary. It might make us wonder . . .
Deut. 3:22 "Ye shall not fear them; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you."
That lion stalking us is Satan, the tempter (1 Thess. 3:5) who seeks to lead us into sin that he may accuse us before God (Rev. 12:10). And, boy howdy, does he provide plenty of opportunities to fall from grace. Whatever your predilection might be, Satan has something available: drunkenness/alcoholism, sexual sin, losing one's temper, thievery, and pride all of which will keep you from the kingdom of Heaven (1 Cor. 6:9-10, Matt. 5:22). The temptations might not be as blatant as a loose woman plopping down in your lap; they can be as subtle as a difficult spouse who causes you to look outside the marriage or rambunctious kids who try your patience. Or mean bosses, difficult brethren, dismaying political news . . . sometimes it is just all too much! How are we supposed to fight all of this?
Deut. 20:4 "for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."
Paul tells Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim. 6:12) but often that fight isn't against the evil forces of persecution or temptation. Sometimes life is just hard. The Hebrew writer refers to a "conflict of sufferings" (10:32) which describes Christian life well. I'm reminded of the character Gil on The Simpsons. This poor sap could never win no matter how hard he tried: he'd get a new job only to have the plant closed, he'd raise a successful crop as a farmer only to have a horde of Homers destroy the crop, etc. Nothing ever worked out for him. Life can feel that way sometimes: loved ones become sick, you become sick yourself, jobs are lost, housing is taken away, you miss promotions and lose friends for being a Christian. It is just too much. I can't keep going.
Joshua 23:10 "One man of you shall chase a thousand; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he spake unto you."
Sometimes it is our own relative wealth in this world that is the obstacle. Earthly possessions and good times in this world can blind us to the needs for a better world, which is why Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25) But who wants to deny themselves all this innocent fun? I'm supposed to set service to God and work for the brethren ahead of keeping up with all my favorite shows on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime? I should avoid going to Prom and certain other parties my worldly friends are having as part of being a Christian? I should focus my extra income on charitable endeavors rather than buying more toys for myself? But I NEED that new Jet Ski, my old one isn't as cool as this model! Even though my iPhone 10 is only 4 months old I NEED that new iPhone 11 to be able to keep up! How can you ask me to give up my toys?
2 Chron. 32:7-8 ". . . for there is a greater with us than with him: with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is Jehovah our God to help us, and to fight our battles."
We can overcome temptation. (Rom. 12:21)
We can stand against the trials of the world.
We can resist the attractiveness of this world. (1 John 2:15)
Nehemiah 4:20 " . . our God will fight for us."
God fights for us. With Him we cannot lose. We just have to maintain faith.
1 John 5:4 "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."
Lucas Ward
We've been learning about God based on His names and self-descriptions. From a cursory look at His Name ( I AM -- YHWH or Jehovah, take your pick) and titles (God Most High, God Almighty, Everlasting God, etc.) one can quickly learn that He is a God who is a person, rather than an amorphous force, and He is present and active in our lives. In fact, His name is used whenever He wants to emphasize His covenantal relationship with His people. It is His signatory promise to be there for His people.
God also gives several self-descriptions which reveal quite a bit about Him. The God who has dealt wondrously for His people. And now, the God who fights for us.
Deut. 1:30 "Jehovah your God who goeth before you, he will fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes"
We are never told that the Christian life is going to be easy. Yes, Jesus says His yoke is easy and burden light (Matt. 11:30), but that is only in comparison to the Old Law. Jesus also says that we are blessed when we are persecuted for Him (Matt. 5:10-12, and that His disciples will be treated at least as badly as He was (John 15:20). Paul reiterates that in 2 Tim. 3:12 "Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Not only do we face persecution but we are told that Satan is prowling the earth like a lion stalking us and that we must stand up against him. (1 Pet. 5:8-9, James 4:7). It can all be a bit much, a bit too scary. It might make us wonder . . .
Deut. 3:22 "Ye shall not fear them; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you."
That lion stalking us is Satan, the tempter (1 Thess. 3:5) who seeks to lead us into sin that he may accuse us before God (Rev. 12:10). And, boy howdy, does he provide plenty of opportunities to fall from grace. Whatever your predilection might be, Satan has something available: drunkenness/alcoholism, sexual sin, losing one's temper, thievery, and pride all of which will keep you from the kingdom of Heaven (1 Cor. 6:9-10, Matt. 5:22). The temptations might not be as blatant as a loose woman plopping down in your lap; they can be as subtle as a difficult spouse who causes you to look outside the marriage or rambunctious kids who try your patience. Or mean bosses, difficult brethren, dismaying political news . . . sometimes it is just all too much! How are we supposed to fight all of this?
Deut. 20:4 "for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."
Paul tells Timothy to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim. 6:12) but often that fight isn't against the evil forces of persecution or temptation. Sometimes life is just hard. The Hebrew writer refers to a "conflict of sufferings" (10:32) which describes Christian life well. I'm reminded of the character Gil on The Simpsons. This poor sap could never win no matter how hard he tried: he'd get a new job only to have the plant closed, he'd raise a successful crop as a farmer only to have a horde of Homers destroy the crop, etc. Nothing ever worked out for him. Life can feel that way sometimes: loved ones become sick, you become sick yourself, jobs are lost, housing is taken away, you miss promotions and lose friends for being a Christian. It is just too much. I can't keep going.
Joshua 23:10 "One man of you shall chase a thousand; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he spake unto you."
Sometimes it is our own relative wealth in this world that is the obstacle. Earthly possessions and good times in this world can blind us to the needs for a better world, which is why Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25) But who wants to deny themselves all this innocent fun? I'm supposed to set service to God and work for the brethren ahead of keeping up with all my favorite shows on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime? I should avoid going to Prom and certain other parties my worldly friends are having as part of being a Christian? I should focus my extra income on charitable endeavors rather than buying more toys for myself? But I NEED that new Jet Ski, my old one isn't as cool as this model! Even though my iPhone 10 is only 4 months old I NEED that new iPhone 11 to be able to keep up! How can you ask me to give up my toys?
2 Chron. 32:7-8 ". . . for there is a greater with us than with him: with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is Jehovah our God to help us, and to fight our battles."
We can overcome temptation. (Rom. 12:21)
We can stand against the trials of the world.
We can resist the attractiveness of this world. (1 John 2:15)
Nehemiah 4:20 " . . our God will fight for us."
God fights for us. With Him we cannot lose. We just have to maintain faith.
1 John 5:4 "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith."
Lucas Ward
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