Bible Study: How To Win The Battle 04.02.10

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Today is Friday April 02, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of I Samuel, chapters 4-7. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-april-2

Title: Bible Study: How To Win The Battle
You may not realize it, but as a Christian you are feared by the world. Why? Because you are a child of the living God. Praise God! The world fears God because they know just how powerful He is, regardless of how many people try to prove that God does not exist, they know deep down inside He does so they will do anything to try to come up with some other theory to prove God wrong because they know where they are going when they die. Since they can not mess with God, they mess with God's people and because we hold this great honor and are feared we can expect many battles while here on earth. Sadly, many false Christians will be at the heart of the battles and cause many people to lose their lives over it. The way in which we handle these battles will determine whether or not we truly have faith in the Son of God or we are just trusting in ourselves to win a battle that can not be won without God.

Eli, the high priest, had two sons, named Hophni and Phinehas, they were both wicked men who knew who God was, yet never did anything to serve Him. Now, the Israelites are in battle with the Philistines and being defeated fiercely, the people realize they needed God's help, however, instead of making things right with Him and seeking His guidance, they took the Ark of God with them, since only a priest could cart the Ark, Hophni and Phinehas carried it. “And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.” - I Samuel 4:1-4. The first thing the Israelites do is blame God for being defeated. Then, they foolishly put their faith in the Ark of God, not God Himself. The first thing faithless people do when battles come their way is blame God, then they destroy God's image by coming up with these foolish ideas to make people afraid of Him. Although the Ark of the Lord held the presence of God, it was not the ark itself that held the power, it was God that gave it that power. Every Christian who accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior receives the presence of God within them, through the Holy Spirit, but that does not mean that we are invincible if we do not acknowledge that God is the source if that power. If we want the power of God we need to ask Him for it all day long.

Now, when the Philistines heard that the Ark of God was in their presence they became afraid, they too thought of the Ark of God as the Israelites source of power that would defeat them. “And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. Be strong and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight. And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.” - I Samuel 4:7-11. Okay, the Philistines had one thing right, they could be defeated, because they knew what the power of God did to the enemies of God's people. What they did not realize was that God allowed them to defeat the Israelites once again and even take the Ark of God with them. Why did God allow this? To make them over confident in themselves and to get the Israelites to see that the power of God did not come from the Ark, it came from Him and all they had to do was go to Him. God will allow us to lose a battle or two for that very same reason, if we are defeated we will learn what is needed to do to get back up and fight. The sooner we realize we need God to help us with the fight, the quicker we will win it. Praise God for His patience! Because we would all be joining the devil in hell if He had none.

Once the Israelites figured out that they needed God Himself, they built an alter and offered up sacrifices to Him for forgiveness and then the Power of God was upon them to allow them to defeat the Philistines. “And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him. And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar. Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.” - I Samuel 7:9-13. The power of God will only shine if we acknowledge Him, if we do not say one word to Him and do things that defile our mind, body, and soul, He is going to ignore us and no amount of church or worshiping will get Him to hear us until we put away all our false gods and seek His forgiveness and guidance first.

You know, even though the Philistines had the Ark of God for a time, they did not do one thing to change their lives, probably assuming that the Ark was just as that false god of theirs. However, when they realized that the presence of the living God was still in that Ark, they wanted it away from them real quick. Did you ever notice that the friends you once had in the world are no longer your friends? People who live wicked lives do not want to be in the presence of those who are living godly lives. Oh, they may even pretend for a while, but deep down it is all a front and they eventually get away from you because they can not handle the conviction of the Holy Spirit trying to get them to see the truth. I lost family members, and friends because I chose to live my life for Christ and not them. They did not want to change so they remain miserable and facing one battle after another, yet fail to realize they need Jesus. You know, we may face many battles as Christians, but we have the best coach and director and that is Jesus Christ. “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:12,13. I know how to ask for help when I need it, because I can do all things through Christ and so can everyone reading this.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and weekend.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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