Enemies

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2 Kings 6:22 Treating The Enemy Correctly

“Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and go back to their master.” 2 Kings 6:22

Throughout history there have been many different wars with various nations against other nations. In every war there have been soldiers who have been captured. Many of those who did the capturing would torture those they had captured with severe painful torture. The torturing was done out of anger and vengeance against their enemies and to instill fear into their enemy.

The king of Aram sent soldiers to find and capture Elisha. Elisha had those soldiers blinded then led them into the king of Israel. When the king of Israel wanted to kill them, Elisha said not to, but to feed them food and water and sent them home.

Very few people will ever be in a position of capturing an enemy and being able to deal directly with that enemy as in an army with a nation against another nation. The enemies that the average person has are those people who treat them badly and lie, cheat or even physically harm them.

When a person is caught in the act of doing something wrong, most people may not want to physically kill the person, but they do want to strike back and often harshly. People want their enemies to pay a severe price for doing wrong.

Years after Elisha told them not to kill the enemies, Jesus told the people to love their enemies and do good to them. Believers are to provide for the needs of their enemies to show and represent God’s love to them. Love, in this way, will turn their hearts away from their sin and to God, rather than angering them more.

You most likely have someone who has done you harm. When you have caught them in doing the harm, you have a choice to make as to how you deal with them.

Keep in mind the love Jesus had for you when you sinned against Him and did Him harm. He loved you and treated you with respect providing abundantly for all of your needs, despite your deserving death. In this same way, treat those who harm you with love. Give them food and water, things that they need, to win their hearts over to God.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the love God has for you and your enemies; that you will treat your enemies with God’s love; that God will guide you in providing what your enemies need; and that you will be a witness of God’s love to this world.

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Deuteronomy 23:9 Stay Away From The Impure

When you encamped against your enemies, keep away from anything impure. Deuteronomy 23:9

In every nation there will be times that battles will occur for the military to take care of. During the battle the soldiers must remain focused upon their mission. Soldiers must be careful not to allow themselves to become distracted with anything that could prevent them from accomplishing their mission. Along with staying focused, they must also keep themselves in good health.

Staying physically and mentally focused will allow them to be ready to take a stand against the enemy in the defensive or offensive times.

Moses told the Israelites that when they are going up against their enemies, they must stay away from anything impure.

Believers are soldiers in God’s army, though the battle is not a physical one with guns and other physical weapons, but a spiritual battle. The battle is against spiritual forces and sin that arises up in the life of the believer to take him out and destroy him.

As with any battle there will be times when the believer is encamped across from the enemy waiting for a time of direct conflict. One must be prepared mentally and physically for the battle that will come and must remained focused upon the mission staying away from anything impure or sinful.

Any time a believer allows sin in his life, he weakens his defense against the enemy and allows the enemy to gain territory. With sin in his life, he is no longer focused upon God, His word and the enemy, but upon self and sin. The world will see that sin or weakness and find a way to strike at that vulnerable area in the life of the believer.

Keeping away from sin allows God to rise up and destroy the plans of the enemy.

There will be times in your life in which there will be a lull in the battle as you are encamped near the enemy. Do not allow yourself to become unfocused and to allow sin in your life.

Keep yourself away from anything impure so that you will be ready to fight the enemy on the day of battle. Stay focused upon God and His word and His mission for your life. God will fight your battles when you do not allow sin in your life that will distract you from His plan for your life.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will stay focused upon God and His word in times of battle; that God will give you strength to stay away from all sin in your life; and that God will give you strength and direction in defeating the enemies in your life.

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Numbers 10:9 Sound The Trumpet

When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the Lord your God and rescued from your enemies. Numbers 10:9

Throughout early history trumpets were often sounded to show victory or great honor. As battles were being fought, trumpets would sound off to encourage the soldiers to go forward and win.

Outside of times of battle, when a king or some high official entered an area, trumpets would be sounded to alert everyone of who was coming and give honor.

God told the Israelites to sound the trumpets when they went into battle against an enemy. As they did that God would hear, remember them and rescue them.

Hearing trumpet blasts is a rare thing in society today. Trumpets are typically heard only during concerts and very few can play them.

Nearly everyday believers have to go into battle against the enemy. Some days it is a physical enemy, but most often it is a spiritual enemy. Even though most do not have a trumpet, nor can play one, a trumpet sound needs to be blasted as they go into battle.

The trumpet sound that a believer can sound off is with their voice. Shouts of praise and victory can arise from the heart and voice of the believer as he goes into battle, knowing that God can give him the victory. It alerts other believers around him of the battle, and it alerts the enemy of God’s presence. It gives encouragement and strength knowing God will bring about a great victory.

God is always ready and willing to rescue one in a battle against his soul. Trumpet sounds of praise give God the honor and strength to move forward with the rescue.

You will have times in which you must go into battle against the enemy. Temptations and persecution will arise in your life to attempt to break you down and destroy you.

Do not give in to fear of the enemy or the temptation, but shout trumpets of praise to God. Let the enemy know who is on your side and allow God to gain the victory over the enemy in your life. He is ready, willing and able to rescue you from the enemy of your soul.

Will you sound the trumpet of victory today?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the victory you have in Jesus; that you will shout praises of victory to God; that you will see God rescue you from the hands of the enemy; and that God would defeat the enemies in your life.