Believers

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Joshua 11:5 Joined Forces Against Believers

All these kings joined forces and made camp together at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel. Joshua 11:5

Wars occur on a regular basis all over the world. At times multiple nations will agree to get together to wage war against another nation. The unified front will often give a greater front against the other nation to be able to stop that nation.

Usually when this occurs it is to stop one nation from taking over everyone else. At other times it is to destroy a nation or a group of people that are not wanted.

A group of kings had gathered together to fight against Israel and keep the Israelites from taking the land.

Just as physical wars are occurring around the world, there is also a spiritual war going on. Demonic forces of this fallen world are set on destroying all believers and at any cost.

In some nations these forces are unified as a whole in the nation banning all belief in God. In other nations, such as America, believers have mostly been free to worship and serve God.

Although there has been some freedom, the world is quickly joining forces to rise up against believers. Sin is promoted as good more and more and anyone against sin is considered a hater and wrong. It is no longer just a few against believers, but whole nations.

Every believer must be ready and prepared for spiritual war against his soul. Believers will often be surrounded by those who are against God and His ways. Although the forces of the world are many, the forces of God are greater and more in number with the believer.

No believer needs to be afraid of the enemy knowing that God is for him and will fight the battle for him.

The world is rising up as a unified front against you. They want to get you to sin against God in whatever way possible. The temptations to sin will come from nearly every angle and location around you.

Do not fear those dark forces but put your focus upon God and trust Him. Know that you are on the winning side and God will give you strength to destroy the attacks of the enemy in your life.

Be willing to destroy the temptations to sin that rise up in your life. Do not entertain them or let those temptations live.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will open your eyes to the temptations that come your way; that you will trust God in the battle for your soul; and that God will remove all fear of the enemy.

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Exodus 15:13 God Will Lead In Love And Strength

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13

From the moment of birth to the moment of death, people are led by someone to some level or more. Some are very closely guided, while others are more loosely led.

With all of these leaders there are many different types. Different styles of leadership are to be found with some being extremely strict and bossy, while others are very lenient and friendly. Of all the human leaders, none are able to lead with perfect love and strength.

After being rescued from captivity in Egypt, Moses and the Israelites sang a song about what happened. They stated that God lead them with unfailing love and strength to the holy dwelling place.

Once a person chooses to repent of his sins and God rescues him out of the captivity and death of sin, God does not leave him alone on his own. He is willing to lead him on the new journey in life to the promised land. This promised land is not a physical land on earth as the Israelites traveled to, but to a home in heaven for eternity with God.

This journey, like all journeys, can be filled with challenges, troubles, and detours. One cannot know all the correct steps to take on his own, but needs guidance and direction.

The world is unable to correctly lead a person on how to make this journey. The world is leading a person to death in sin. God, in His perfect love and strength, is able to lead a person on the right path towards heaven and He will not make a mistake or lead wrong. This path is one that guides the person to become more like Jesus every day in following God’s will.

You are on a journey in this life. If you have chosen to follow Jesus, you are on the journey towards heaven, the promised land.

Do not allow yourself to be guided on this journey by the world. That path will only lead to death and destruction.

God is ready, willing and able to lead you with perfect love and strength. He knows the steps you must take. Seek His direction and obey His commands and you will make the journey in success. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it in the end.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will be led by God’s Holy Spirit; that you will walk the path God lays out for you; and that you will trust God’s perfect love and strength to lead you.

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Revelation 12:17 There Is A War Going On

Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring–those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. Revelation 12:17

People all over the world are desiring peace and an end to wars. Yet, wars are occurring on a regular basis around the world.

Nations are fighting against nations for control and power. Inside every nation people are fighting against other people for many different reasons. The fighting is occurring from a national level all the way down to inside of homes and families.

John describes a woman, (believed to be the church), being protected from a dragon, (Satan). Since Satan could not get the woman, he goes after her offspring who are all the believers that keep God’s word and their testimony about Jesus.

As the world is focused on various physical wars occurring all over the world, there is a greater war going on that is not always physical. It is a war against believers in Jesus.

Satan has come to steal, kill and destroy everyone and everything he can. He hates anyone who has life, joy and peace and will do anything he can to destroy that person, thus warring against every believer.

This war begins in the mind and will of each person. His ammunition is not physical bullets and bombs, but temptations to sin and doubt. Every sin is a direct disobedience to God’s will. Doubt is a result in not believing the word of God and the work of Jesus in one’s own life.

Knowing that Satan is on a warpath against every believer, it should cause the believer to be aware of it and ready to hold on to what God has said as truth. The believer must also stay focused on obeying every command of God, despite the war waged against him.

You are in a war for your soul from the moment you chose to believe in and follow Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Neither Satan nor the world likes what you are doing and will do whatever it takes to try and stop you and defeat you.

Do not be surprised when trials and temptations come your way, Satan wants you to lose. Do not give up or give in on your obedience to God and holding onto the promises of God through Jesus.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will make you will be aware of the attacks of the enemy; that you will obey the commands of God; that you will hold on to your testimony about Jesus; and that God will give you victory over the enemy.

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1 Corinthians 5:12 Who Is To Be Judged?

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 1 Corinthians 5:12

Nearly every city, county and state in America has a judge that sits on a seat to make judgements about various situations. Rules are put in place and are expected to be followed. The judgement occurs when those rules are not followed correctly.

Judgements also occur inside of many organizations and just among people in general. They are made when a norm or a rule is not followed correctly. The challenge comes in as to who makes the rules or what rules are to be followed.

After talking about expelling a believer living in sin, Paul tells the people that they are not to focus on judging those outside the church, but those in the church.

It is very common to hear people quickly say that no one is to judge anyone, that all judgement is to be left up to God and God alone. This belief is only partially true.

Believers are not to judge those outside the church, because those people do not know or understand God’s commandments. People outside the church are living just like their character, not according to God’s character. They cannot be expected to live any other way.

However, those inside the church are expected to live according to God’s commands. Too often people who consider themselves believers, live in purposeful sin, refusing to repent or change, while still calling themselves a follower of Jesus. It is these people inside the church that Paul tells the believers to judge and expel.

As one does judging, he must take into consideration whether the sin being committed is one on purpose or by a slip up. One who tries to not sin, may slip up and does not need to be judged, but guided.

Start judging by looking at your own life. Are you purposefully living in sin or are you striving to stop all sin?

Once you have judged yourself, do not be afraid to look at other believers around you. If one is living in sin, find out if he is striving to stop the sin or not. If he is trying to stop sinning, then guide him and build him up in the Lord. If he is not trying to stop, warn him and then expel him.

Always remember that those outside the church are living like their leader Satan.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will strive to live by God’s commands; that God will guide you in leading others in His ways; that God will give you wisdom on what to judge by His standards; and that God will draw many to Jesus through you.