Battles in the Bible teach us

For several months here at Highway Baptist Church, I have been preaching on Wednesday nights a sermon series called “Great Battles of the Bible.”

These battles are actual battles that have taken place in history, in real places, with real people shedding real blood.

Many of the battles in the Bible end in great victory, while others end in terrible defeat.

Oftentime, these battles were fought as a direct commandment from God, and others were due to sin or misguided ambition by humans.

Nonetheless, all these battles serve as great lessons in the lives of people today, if only we would learn from them and apply the spiritual life lessons to our lives.

One of the most famous battles in the Bible took place at Mt. Carmel. It is recorded in the Bible in 1 Kings, chapter 18.

In this battle, a prophet named Elijah put the false god Baal in competition against the God of the Bible. Needless to say the false god lost this battle.

The false gods of this world cannot hear, see or help. They do not exist.

While many people go after and follow the false gods of other religions, the only true and living God is the God of the Bible, and he alone can hear and answer.

Another great battle of the Bible is one that took place at a place called Ai as recorded in Joshua chapter 7.

In this battle, the Christian learns that God will not bless and defend us when we live a life of sin. In this battle, the people of God suffered a great defeat with 36 men losing their lives.

When Joshua asked God why this has happened, God replied in verse 11, “Israel hath sinned.”

God continues in verse 12 saying, “Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies.”

There are a lot more battles in the Bible, and they all teach us life lessons for our Christian walk.

And, in all of these, God is able to subdue kingdoms and work great miracles.

But, the hardest battle God has ever fought is in the heart of a person. There the battle rages.

See, God is able to have his way in the affairs of wars, nations and nature.

But, inside the heart of a person, the battle is often fought for years.

Why? Because God gives you and I a choice in the outcome.

Have you ever noticed that everything obeys the voice of God, except for his crowning creation, mankind.

Nature obeys his will at every possible second of the day. Wind, waves, weather, animals, they all obey. All, except mankind.

In Acts chapter nine, a man named Saul was fighting against the Christians and the church, having people arrested for serving Christ.

God stops him on the road to Damascus. In verse 4, Jesus asked him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”

Then Jesus continues and says, “… it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”

Basically Jesus was asking Saul, why are you fighting against me?

Dear reader, give in to God today. Let him win in your heart.

If I may be of any assistance, please contact me by email at bro.robert@hotmail.com, social media, our website at Highwaymbc.org or visit one of our services at Highway Baptist Church.

Dr. Robert Randolph is the founding pastor of Highway Baptist Church in Greenville, Mo.

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