When God Fights the Battles :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: July 29, 2023 by RR10

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

Can we understand God? To our puny human minds, God is beyond our imaginations. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

We need to understand that and let God be God instead of trying to fit Him into our own understanding. He loved us before time began. He sent His Son to be the final sacrifice for our redemption. The door to salvation is open to anyone who will accept the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. We might say, “I’m a Christian,” but do you cave in to the enemy at the first sign of trouble? It’s easy to fear people and what they think but harder to trust Jesus in all situations. We read many accounts of God’s love and power in Scripture but think that His protection was for then and not for us now. There are many, many battles described in Scripture, and I want to take a look at just a few.

Let’s look at a couple of the battles which Joshua fought. He was a man who trusted God, and his faith was strong. That’s something to keep in mind as we fight our own battles in life. If we have faith in God and trust Him, we can’t lose. Joshua was one who had no fear of entering the Promised Land because he knew that God would defeat the Nephilim giants found there. It was the fear of people with less faith that caused the Israelites to wander for 40 years. During those wanderings, there were battles, but when Israel had faith in God, He brought victory. Joshua was a great military leader because he trusted God.

Sometimes God seems to choose some very odd ways of fighting battles. When it was time for Israel to finally enter the land that God had promised to them, the first battle was at Jericho. There had been many heathen and demonic tribes building strongholds in the land, but God had given the land to Israel. It still belongs to them. The first thing Israel had to do in order to be fit to fight was to get right with God. That’s the first thing everyone should do. While they wandered, they had ignored the Law that had been given to Moses on Mt. Sinai, and they had to get back into a covenant relationship with God. We cannot expect God to defend us against enemy attack if we live life on our own terms, making our own rules.

“At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time” (Joshua 5:2).

Circumcision was the first covenant that God made with Abraham. They also kept the Passover. Their hearts were once again tuned to God’s truth, and He would bless their battles. When they were ready to fight, they had to cross the flooded Jordan River, but God was with them. Just as when they crossed the Red Sea, God stopped the Jordan River so that His people could safely pass through. We often liken crossing the Jordan to entering into God’s peace. The truth is, the battle was just beginning. What was the battle plan? How were these people going to win against the formidable army in Jericho?

“And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. And it shall come to pass that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him” (Joshua 6:2-5).

God had already seen that the battle was won, but that’s an interesting plan of action. God’s ways aren’t our ways, and even if we don’t understand why or how it’s always to follow God’s plan. The Israelites followed the plan, the walls fell, and Jericho was conquered.

The battle was won, but more battles were ahead. During one battle with the Amorites, God gave Joshua assurance that he would be victorious.

“And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee” (Joshua 10:8).

We need to pay attention to this and not fear our battles because our enemy has already been defeated. Jesus defeated him at the cross, so what do we have to fear? There is victory in Jesus. Interesting that “Joshua” means “Jehovah is salvation,” and the name “Jesus” is the Greek/English form of Joshua. Jesus is salvation. In the battle against the Amorites, Joshua needed more time in order to win the battle.

“Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou Moon, in the valley of Ajalon” (Joshua 10:12).

I love Joshua’s faith. He knew God would give him victory, so he had no doubt that God would give him the time he needed.

“And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel” (Joshua 10:13-14).

God will always protect His people. And one day, the nation of Israel will turn back to Him and ask God to fight. He will, and Christians will come with Him. Until then, God will continue to miraculously keep Israel from destruction. It must be noted that Joshua wasn’t praying for personal gain. His prayers were in line with God’s will.

On the surface, these battles seem as if the war is between two groups of people. It is, but that’s just the physical manifestation of a spiritual battle. Satan and his minions have always come against God by trying to destroy people who serve Him. All of the battles in Israel, including modern ones, have their roots in Satanic evil trying to destroy the nation of Israel.

Let’s look at another battle. This one obviously between those who served demons and a man who served God. Israel had been divided into two nations. The Northern Kingdom rejected God and began worshipping false gods… demons. Eventually, King Ahab and his evil wife Jezebel ruled over that kingdom. They are very symbolic of evil. One prophet of God stood against them. That prophet was Elijah. Of course, he was vilified, and they wanted to kill him. During a meeting between Ahab and Elijah, Ahab asked if Elijah was the one that troubled Israel (the Northern Kingdom). I really admire Elijah’s answer:

“And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim” (1 Kings 18:18).

That’s the problem in nations today. National leaders have rejected God and worship demons instead. Laws protect a lifestyle that thrived in Sodom, and demon worship that involves human sacrifice. God will not overlook this behavior for long. In Elijah’s time, there was a showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal.

“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word” (1 Kings 18:21).

That seems much like Christians today. We like dabbling in the evil of Baal, living a life of sin during the week but very piously sitting in our pew on Sunday. How long will we live this way? We need a man like Elijah who calls out the purpose-driven, New Age, seeker-friendly, politically correct worship of Baal within our congregations.

The showdown began on Mt. Carmel. Elijah was one man standing firm upon God’s truth, while there were 450 prophets on Baal’s side, and the people watching favored the prophets of Baal. Very sad. The challenge was to offer a sacrifice.

“Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, it is well spoken” (1 Kings 18:23-24).

And so the challenge began. The false prophets tried and tried to get their demon god to light a fire. Elijah mocked them, asking if their god was asleep and needed to wake up. Finally, Elijah took his turn at sacrifice. He took 12 stones, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, and built an altar. He made a trench around it. He placed the wood on the altar, cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood. Then, three times he called for four barrels of water to be poured on the burnt sacrifice. Then Elijah prayed.

“And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again” (1 Kings 18:36-37).

Elijah glorified God, not himself. That’s when the fire from God fell and consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and evaporated all the water. The people were amazed and worshipped God. The false prophets were captured and executed. Even King Ahab was brought to his knees. Christians, let us stop fearfully accepting the evil that is being thrust upon us. Let us stand up for God and glorify Him.

Let’s look at one more Old Testament account of a battle against evil. Elisha was the successor of Elijah. He continued to speak against the evil in the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and the leaders were angry with him. Elisha had managed to turn the King of Syria against him. The king learned Elisha was in the city of Dothan.

“Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about” (2 Kings 6:14).

All of that to capture one man. Political tactics haven’t changed much. As I watch the evil that is being hurled against Donald Trump, I see the same evil happening in America.

In the morning, Elisha’s servant got up early. When he went outside, he saw the army and was afraid. Elisha’s words are ones we all need to take to heart. “And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16).

Then Elisha asked God to open the eyes of his servant so that he could see God’s protection “And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17).

Elisha was protected because of his absolute faith in God. We are all in a Spiritual battle, and our faith in God protects us.

Jesus knew this spiritual battle well. Every time the Pharisees tried to come against Him, they spewed the words of spiritual warfare. They had no faith and only wanted Him out of the way. When He allowed Himself to be crucified, Satan lost the war. By faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.

“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:10-15).

That means that sin is forgiven by faith in Christ, and Satan has no more rights to you. The principalities and powers He spoiled at the Cross are the demonic powers that have always been the spiritual enemy.

Paul also tells us, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).

We battle the same enemy that Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha all fought. We need to put on the full armor of God. He will protect us in our battles.

We are in the same spiritual battles as Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, and many others from creation. Why, then, do we fear the enemy and seem to fail in our battles? Plain and simple, we lack faith, and we listen to the false prophets of today. The Gospel is watered down to the point that it’s a different Gospel than found in Scripture. We allow fear to stop us from fighting, and the enemy’s temptations seem good.

The end times are here, and Paul gives a very good description of today’s world. “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:2-5).

Brothers and sisters, first, we must get right in our walk with God, and then we must pray, put on God’s armor and fight.

The battle rages; Christians must do our part to fight against the powers and principalities that come against us and against God. We must fight with uncompromising faith in Jesus. When God fights the battle, He will not fail.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.rapture ready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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Don’t Scoff, Be Vigilant :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: July 22, 2023 by RR10

There are some things in life that make me scoff. Evolution, for instance. I have lived many years and never have seen even the slightest change of one kind of animal mutating into a new and different kind altogether. Cats are cats, whether they are calico, tabby, black, big with a mane, or large spotted ones. Dogs are dogs and never change to a new and different species. DNA proves that each kind of animal will always be that same distinct animal.

Yes, I scoff at the absurdity of evolution, but I never scoff at God’s truth. That doesn’t rule out survival of the fittest or adaptation. If the food supply can only be reached with a longer beak, the genes of birds with longer beaks will survive easier than those with shorter beaks, or else those with shorter beaks will learn to eat food that they are able to gather with their shorter beaks. For instance, a hummingbird has a beak that slips deep into a flower to gather the nectar, while a cardinal will eat seeds.

Today, Christians have stopped being vigilant and have allowed “science” to dictate truth. Only God is truth, and His ways are perfect. From Scripture, we understand that God created all things in six literal days, but instead of believing God’s truth, Christians have compromised. Will you be scoffed at or mocked or flunk a class at school if you stand firmly on God’s word? Yes, you will, but so what? If you take time to study, you’ll find that “science” is filled with made-up stories that are taught as truth.

“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen” (1 Timothy 6:20-21).

The secular world is blind to the truth. We can’t blame them for their ignorance, but we can guard our own understanding of truth only found in God’s word.

Most Christians have become lazy when it comes to studying and understanding Scripture. It’s interesting that many can quote sports statistics or know all about the stock market but haven’t a clue about God’s word. There’s no time for Scripture study when the Dodgers or Cardinals are playing ball. Or there’s a pennant race, or the stock market is sinking. None of those things can possibly matter for eternity. It matters not that your favorite team is low in the standings; what’s more important is the faith you profess is being compromised. We need to be vigilant and not allow anything to be above our knowledge and understanding of God’s word. Life on this earth is temporary.

“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:10).

Where are you on that timeline? I’m just past the threescore and ten, but I have many friends well past fourscore. I’ve noticed that the “golden years” are tarnished by sorrow, loss, and the aches and pains of aging. Yet, God never changes. He is the same today as He was in the beginning.

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8).

God hasn’t changed, nor has His word. Christians must use Christ as our example and become like Him instead of trying to change Him to be like us.

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

God’s perfection is an impossible standard for humans to achieve, but Christians have Christ. We are sinners saved by grace, and we must be vigilant in our Bible studies so we aren’t swayed by the ways and whims of the world. We mustn’t try to make God conform to human thinking.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

God’s ways are so much higher than our minds can grasp. I want to be more like Him, but I fail. He doesn’t expect us to stop being human, but He does expect us not to scoff at His word and to be vigilant in our walk with Him. It’s important to be able to defend our faith because sometimes we listen to worldly opinions and even need to defend God’s word to our own minds. You may face derogatory remarks and scoffing from people around you, but stand strong in the Lord. How do you live your faith when people mock you and laugh at your beliefs? You need to plant your feet solidly upon Scripture, and don’t allow your faith to waiver.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ” (1 Peter 3:15-16).

Every day we are inundated with sin being glorified. Even though the world accepts something, it doesn’t mean God accepts it. We are called haters when we stand against sin and don’t participate in pride parades or other blatant demonstrations of sin. When Peter talked about having a “good conversation in Christ,” the King James translation sort of blurs the meaning. The word “anastrophe” is translated as “conversation” and means “manner of life, conduct, behavior, deportment.” We are to live our life in such a way that we please God, and those who accuse us of being “haters” will be ashamed because of our Godly love towards others.

If you love someone and see them headed to destruction, you don’t keep quiet. That’s not love. All who have rejected Christ for salvation are on the road to destruction. Paul and all of the Apostles faced persecution; scoffers were everywhere, but they were not silenced.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

We will be silenced if we are ashamed of our faith. Pray that the Holy Spirit will strengthen your faith and help you to speak openly in defense of the Gospel of Christ. Peter said to always be ready to answer questions about your faith. Study Scripture and write it on your heart so you have a ready answer.

A good study of Scripture (and I don’t mean one filled with New Age ideas and purpose-driven follies) will open your eyes to the truth of prophecy. People will scoff at you because Christians have been looking for the Rapture for years. Even Paul seemed to think it would happen in his time. Just because it hasn’t happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t happen. The Pre-Trib Rapture is a Biblical fact and a gift from God to all believers.

The Great Tribulation will be a horrific time when God’s wrath will be poured out in judgment of all who have rejected Him. For those of us who follow the news with an eye on prophecy, we can see all of the prophetic pieces falling into place. The nation of Israel is back in their land, and that was a huge part of fulfilled prophecy. Russia is uniting with Iran against Israel, and the whole world condemns Israel for defending themselves. The economic system of the world is merging into a one-world currency, and governments are starting to willingly turn over their individual sovereignty to a one-world government. Watch out for artificial intelligence; it’s being used for evil.

We live in exciting times, but they can be frightening. The Rapture is going to happen soon, and we can take comfort in that.

Hatred towards God and His children is becoming more open. As the pieces fall into place, the enemy of all (Satan) plants doubt in the minds of the weak and gullible, so God and Scripture are questioned. Pastors don’t equip Christians with the pure word of God but water it down and make it politically correct and user-friendly. Since many pastors don’t understand Scripture — because seminaries quite often don’t teach God’s pure word — scoffers can easily silence Christians. Christ is going to call Christians Home very soon, but scoffers laugh.

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Things have changed a lot since the Garden of Eden. God’s perfect creation was damaged by sin. God could have left us to continue to struggle on our own to try and save ourselves from eternal death, but He loves us. He gave us Scripture, the Holy Spirit-inspired word of God. The Old Testament is filled with prophecy. Through prophecy, we understand that God still loves His creation and that the only way for humans to live eternally with Him is to be perfect. Not perfect in the eyes of other humans but perfect in the eyes of God. That perfection can only be obtained through faith in the shed blood of Christ.

When Adam sinned, the entire creation fell and was corrupted beyond salvation. That’s why we need Jesus Christ, God incarnate. This is also one of many reasons to reject the lie of evolution. Scripture tells us that there was no sin or death until Adam disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. That’s when humanity was separated from God. Billions of years of fish turning into higher life forms didn’t happen. God spoke, and creation happened. Then sin and death became reality, and creation was altered. That didn’t change God’s love.

Prophecy disclosed that God would provide a way for us to live with Him eternally. People who lived before the cross found salvation by looking forward to the coming Messiah. He would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem. Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, but those who were ignorant of prophecy were blinded to His coming. Jesus was God come in the flesh.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).

Some well-meaning Christians would have us believe that faith isn’t enough; they want us to believe that faith plus works is necessary. God tells us that we are saved by faith. We will never be sin-free while we live on this side of Heaven, but true faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ will bring God’s forgiveness of the sin that separates us from Him. Works won’t save you, but after you’ve repented and asked for salvation through Christ, you need to turn away from sin. You will fail in your walk. I do. In spite of our failures, God is always willing to forgive.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). What a wonderful promise!

Don’t scoff at God’s word, but be vigilant in your walk with Christ. The Rapture will happen soon. I won’t try to guess at a date when it will happen, but as I study prophecy, I can see the signs that it could be at any moment. I’m ready to go, and I hope you are too. Don’t let scoffers intimidate you, but be vigilant in your walk with Christ.