Scripture:
Deuteronomy 20:1-4 ESV
[1] “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. [2] And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people [3] and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, [4] for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’
[8] And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’
Observation:
Moses is telling the Israelites that GOD is with them, and as they look across the battlefield at the opposition they need to remember that. They may see bigger men and they may have more of them. What they don’t have is the maker of heaven and earth fighting for them. He is reminding them about how they got to where they are at this moment. GOD had delivered them. HE brought them out of Egypt. That alone should be enough to stand without fear. Yet there were still some in the midst that were faint at heart. Moses was speaking courage over them telling them to stand strong. To remember how far they had come. To look at the battlefield as a stepping stone, not a stopping point. He was pouring into them the fact that the LORD had brought them this far. Why would HE leave them now? He was encouraging them not to panic because you can’t think clearly when you panic. What it comes down to is being strong and courageous. Now here is a key to it. Those who were faint at heart and full of fear could not be a part of the battle. Their fear would be contagious. GOD was looking for warriors men without fear to forge a path into the promised land. HE gave them an out. If you were fearful you could go home.
Application:
We press on suit up and show up. The battle has already been won. Because GOD is with us no one can stand against us. Let me ask you a question. Are you faint at heart? Now I need to make a statement. The Bible says that on the truth that Jesus is the son of GOD, the church will be built. Ok, so another question then. Are you part of the church? Now before you answer that let me clarify. I’m not asking if you go to church… I’m asking, are you part of the church…not the building but the body of believers that make up the church that GOD is building on the truth that Jesus is the son of GOD? Because if you are…let me encourage you to get in the fight. I need to finish my statement. On the truth that Jesus is the son of GOD, our Father is building a church that the gates of hell can not hold back. Are you hearing me we are made to get on the battlefield. if you are not up for the fight go home, and if you are put on your armor and get in here with me it’s time to storm the gates kick them down, and go get our brothers and sisters who are bound in addiction and sin that so easily entangles us. GOD is looking for spiritual warriors strong enough to fight no matter how tough the opposition is.
Prayer:
Father, I just want to lift up your people. I know that you have made some for the battlefield and some for the church pew. Each is a part of the body and has a purpose in your kingdom. I pray for those who are called to fight. I pray that you, Father would encourage their hearts and they would get suited up and get in the battle. We need workers we need men and women who know who they are in you and have no fear to stand up and say NO YOU CAN NOT TAKE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO HELL BUT YOU ARE MORE THEN WELCOMED TO GO YOURSELF. I part father that those whom you have placed on this thread would feel their spiritual Warrior rising up in them knowing that they were made for this. After all the the war is already won. So we are fighting from victory. Give us the spiritual confidence to kick down those gates. In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray amen.