8/25/24 Spiritual Conflicts

In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 we see from God's word that we will experience conflict. There are small conflicts and some not so small. Some of the conflicts may be within ourselves, some are outside of ourselves.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He leads his people, and even fights for them.

In 2 Chronicles 20:12-22, King Jehoshaphat was faced with a hoard of destroyers ready to march against Jerusalem and massacre them all. So the king, with all the people of Judah; men, women and children, prayed to God, ". . .O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

I have also found myself powerless, not knowing what to do . . . except to turn to God.

God answered the king and the people: "Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s."

It's so good to be reminded that it's not our battle; it's His battle!

God directed them, "Tomorrow go down against them. . . You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, Who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed. . ." And the people praised God.

We've got to praise God, too, even when things don't look good. God has a plan and He is working it out. We use our faith and remind ourselves that we are planted on the Rock, the Lord Jesus. We remind ourselves of His promises and all the good things He has done for us, and we praise God. And we also do what He says.

The king and the people obeyed, "So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; . . . (King Jehoshaphat) appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: 'Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.' Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated."

Being on the winning side begins with asking Jesus to save us. And after He saves us, He reminds us that He was like a servant while He was here and that we must be like Him. Simple, but not always easy. So, "Lord, we don't know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”