The Battle Not Ours...

Does it seem like all the forces of hell have broken loose and are rampaging? Is there pressure forming on all sides? Do the circumstances seem disconcerting? Does it appear as if the powers against you are more than are with you? Paul wrote of this very thing in 2 Cor. 4 "We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;"  And yet, in the midst of all this, he was not crushed of spirit or despaired of hope! How can a person come to the belief that regardless of what is unleashed against them, there IS victory and they HAVE it?

It's so easy to view our circumstances with discouragement. Thoughts come to tell us that there is no hope of escape. The worst is upon us now. This is our lot in life! BUT I want you to know there IS hope. God is on our side! His desires and plans for us are to prosper and succeed. Jesus said He came to give life and life more abundantly. (John 10:10)  We don't have to live in a defeated life with a defeatist attitude. Jesus won!  Col. 2:15 "He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and powerless prisoners for the whole world to see."

We must breakthrough the deceptive walls of failure and rise up in the name of Jesus!  Reject emotions and thoughts of loss. 2 Cor. 10:5 "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"  It takes renewing our mind to the Word of God by reading and rereading. Romans 8:37 says, "We are more than a conqueror through Christ!"   What ever the battle is, we realize it's momentary in comparison to our eternal life with Christ. (2 Cor. 4:17) It's important to keep our faith and trust in God, knowing that all things are possible with Him. We can do all things through Him, Who gives us strength!

Just like Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20) who after hearing of impending war from his enemies, set himself before God fasting and praying for His intervention. His recognition that God was all powerful, mighty and the deliverer, enabled him to hear from heaven. "for the battle is not yours, but God's....position yourself, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" Jehoshaphat laid aside fear, gave honor to God worshipping and praising Him. (vs. 16-19) And by his belief in the Lord God he didn't have to fight the battle, but won by God's hand. (vs. 20-23)

Creflo Dollar said it best: "Spiritual warfare is where you stand and maintain your stance. It's maintaining what Jesus has already done!" Now it's up to us to use our faith to RECEIVE the promise, rather than use our faith to get God to do something.  You see Jehoshaphat came to the place where he believed God at His word, he was able to enter into rest because of His trust and faith in God. You and I need to get to the elevated place of faith, which is rest! It's when we know, that we know, that we know, everything's going to work together for our good! 

We want to encourage you today to come into faith and 'rest' for the battle is not yours, but God's. He has done all the work through Christ. Tell the devil to back off! 

Luke 10:19 Jesus said, "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

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