God Fights for His People

 

By:  Dale Weckbacher

 

Text:  Joshua 10:29-43

 

Romans 8:31-32

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be^[i] against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

(ESV)

 

During these chaotic times, it is easy to begin feeling down-in-the-dumps.  Using this cliché does date me so I might need to explain what it means.  During these times of Covid19 and civil unrest in the streets, the best definition for the cliché might be a feeling of defeat, depression, and even despair.  Romans 8:31-32 reminds us that when we choose to have God on our side, no one or nothing can be against us, including feeling down-in-the-dumps due to feelings of defeat, depression, or despair, providing total and complete victory over these enemies in our lives (Joshua 10:29-43).  The children of God can battle the enemies of defeat, depression, and despair by,

 

1)      Reminding ourselves of our victory in Jesus (Colossians 2:6-15) – The entirety of God dwells in Christ in bodily form (Colossians 2:9).  We too are filled with the entirety of God when we profess our faith in Jesus as our savior and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts (Colossians 2:10).  We must also remember that struggles in life are normal, but that Jesus overcame the world and its struggles (John 16:33).  When feelings of defeat come, we must remind ourselves of the complete victory we have in Christ. 

2)      Finding joy in our relationship with Christ and not our circumstances (Nehemiah 8:10b) – In James 1:2-3, Scripture teaches us to count it as joy when we meet various kinds of trials.  While this represents biblical truth, it is not a passage providing comfort for one in the middle of some trial or struggle in life.  This is because we interpret the passage to mean finding joy in the struggle instead of joy in our relationship with Christ being with us through the struggle.  Jesus warned us that we would have struggles in this world with the promise that He has overcome the world as evidenced by his resurrection and conquest of death (John 16:33).  Jesus also promised never to leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), providing us with a source of joy in the struggles of life.  It is this joy that helps us defeat the enemy of depression trying to rob us of victory in our walk with the Lord as we encounter the circumstances of struggles and trials in life.  I find that depression flees when I take time to worship the Lord with a song like the song “This is what we live for” by Big Daddy Weave. 

3)      Placing our hope in the creator and not created things (Romans 5:1-2) – The Promised Land in Israel entered was not a land without enemies and struggles.  Israel first encountered Jericho where they had victory as they followed the Lord's instructions (Joshua 6).  Israel initially suffered defeat at Ai because they did not first inquire of the Lord’s counsel but later had victory as they inquired of the Lord (Joshua 7,8).  Israel has learned a valuable lesson that when they engage the enemies occupying the promised land with the Lord’s help, they experience victory (Joshua 10:29-43).  As believers in Christ, we live in the Promised Land of the hope of eternal life with Christ freed from condemnation (John 3:16-17).  However, this Promised Land has spiritual enemies we must encounter with the armor of God and not a hope in some program or earthly leader that can lead to despair (Ephesians 6:10-20). 

 

The enemies faced by Christians and the Church today are not flesh and blood enemies but powerful spiritual enemies that hinder the advancement of the message of the Gospel.  Christians and the Church must guard against allowing feelings of defeat, depression, and despair from hindering our walk with the Lord and the advancement of the Gospel message.  Instead, Christians must put on the helmet of salvation as a reminder to think about the total and complete victory they have in Christ.  Christians must put on the breastplate of righteousness to battle depression knowing they have the righteousness of God through Christ in their lives.  Christians must battle despair by using the shield of faith to deflect the fiery arrows of the enemy that attempt to bring despair or feelings of hopelessness.  However, to have access to this spiritual arsenal one must enter into a personal relationship with God through Christ through a profession of faith in Jesus as their Savior.  If you have not done this, I invite you to do so by praying with me now. 

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I encourage those that just prayed to find a church teaching the Bible so they will receive the training they will need as they enter they encounter the enemies in the Promised Land of a relationship with God.  You now have access to the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) but require training on how to use these spiritual weapons.  My prayer is that we remember the complete victory we have in Christ as we battle the enemies of feelings of defeat, depression, and despair.  May God bless everyone reading this post.