Let God Be Your Defender: Trust Him to Fight for You

Have you ever faced a situation that seemed impossible to overcome? A challenge that was too big for you to handle. A problem that made you feel hopeless and helpless. If you have, then you are not alone. Many people in the Bible faced such situations, and they learned that God, their Jehovah Nissi, their Banner, could fight for them and give them victory.

 

One of the most famous examples of this is the story of Joshua and the Wall of Jericho. You can read it in Joshua 6:1-27. Jericho was a fortified city with a high and thick wall that protected it from invaders. It was the first city that the Israelites had to conquer to enter the promised land. But how could they do it? They had no siege engines, no battering rams, no ladders, no weapons of war. They were just a bunch of former slaves who had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.

  

But they had something more powerful than any human weapon: they had God on their side. And God had a plan that was unconventional, unexpected, and unbelievable. He told Joshua to march around the city walls once a day for six days, with seven priests carrying trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark of the covenant. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times, and then blow the trumpets and shout with a loud voice. God promised that when they did this, the wall of the city would collapse, and they would be able to take the city.

 

This plan made no sense from a human perspective. It seemed foolish, ridiculous, and futile. How could walking, blowing horns, and shouting bring down a wall? What if the people of Jericho laughed at them, mocked them, or attacked them? What if nothing happened after seven days? What if they wasted their time and energy for nothing?

 

But Joshua and the people trusted God and obeyed His command. They did not question, doubt, or complain. They did not rely on their own wisdom, strength, or ability. They did not look at the circumstances but at the promise of God. They did not fear the enemy but revered the Lord. They did not walk by sight but by faith. Their mindset was to follow God's instructions regardless of the reaction of others.

 

And God did what He said He would do. On the seventh day, after they marched around the city seven times, the priests blew the trumpets and the people shouted with a great shout. And miraculously, supernaturally, amazingly, the wall of Jericho fell down flat. The Israelites charged into the city and took it by force. They destroyed everything in it, as God had instructed, except for Rahab and her family, who had helped the spies and believed in God. They also took the silver, gold, bronze, and iron for God's treasury.

 

The story of Joshua and the Wall of Jericho teaches us some important lessons about how God fights for us:

 

- God's ways are higher than our ways. He can use any means He chooses to accomplish His purposes. He is not limited by our logic, reason, or understanding. He can do things that are impossible for us to do or imagine.

- God's plans are perfect and trustworthy. He knows what He is doing and why He is doing it. He has a good reason for everything He commands us to do or not to do. He has a good outcome for everything He allows us to go through or not go through.

- God's power is greater than our problems. He can overcome any obstacle, difficulty, or opposition that we face. He can break through any barrier, wall, or stronghold that stands in our way. He can defeat any enemy, foe, or adversary that threatens us.

- God's presence is with us always. He does not leave us alone or forsake us in our battles. He goes before us, behind us, beside us, and within us. He leads us, guides us, protects us, and helps us.

- God's promises are true and faithful. He does not lie or change His mind. He does not fail or disappoint. He does not forget or delay. He does what He says He will do.

What are some signs that God is fighting for you? Here are some possible indicators:

 

- You have peace in your heart and mind that surpasses all understanding.

- You have joy in your soul and spirit that overflows with gratitude.

- You have hope in your eyes and vision that looks beyond your circumstances.

- You have faith in your mouth and words that speak life and blessing.

- You have love in your hands and actions that show kindness and compassion.

 

If you want to experience God's intervention in your life like Joshua did, you need to do what Joshua did:

 

- Listen to God's voice and instructions.

- Obey God's will and commands.

- Trust God's character and promises.

- Praise God's name and glory.

- Follow God's lead and direction.

 

And as you do, you will see God do amazing things for you and through you. You will see walls fall, enemies flee, and victories won. You will see God fight for you. Nothing is impossible with our God!

 

Let us pray:

 

Heavenly Father, our Jehovah Nissi, thank You for being our defender, deliverer, and champion. Thank You for fighting for us when we are weak, helpless, and hopeless. Thank You for giving us victory through Your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose from the dead. Help us to trust You, obey You, and follow You in every situation we face. Help us to see Your hand at work in our lives. Help us to praise You for Your goodness and faithfulness. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

How do we Overcome the Devil?: Harnessing the Power of Prayer for Spiritual Warfare

ROAR! ROOOOAR! The devil is ROARING. As Christians, we believe in God, and we also believe that there is a devil. The devil is a real and powerful enemy who seeks to destroy our lives and our relationship with God. He is not a myth or a symbol, but a fallen angel who rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. He is the leader of a host of evil spirits who work with him to tempt, deceive, accuse, and oppress us in an effort for us to lose our faith and not be a part of the church resulting in us being cast in Hell. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

Christians often attribute their situations to the attack of the devil, they believe that individuals are filled with demons and are being used by these evil spirits to try and harm them. Ephesians 6: 12 “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”. The fight is not against a particular person, although the attack may be done through that individual. Our adversary is the devil. It is a fact that some individuals have that mindset and practice Witchcraft, Vodou, Obeah, Santeria, Spiritism, and Sorcery. These are terms that refer to different forms of **magic** and **spiritual practices** that involve the use, of natural or supernatural forces to influence events, people, or nature. These terms have different meanings and origins depending on the cultural and historical context.

 

Witchcraft is a broad term that can describe various beliefs and practices that involve the manipulation of magic, often for benevolent or malevolent purposes. Witchcraft can be found in many cultures around the world, such as Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America. Witchcraft can be associated with religion, folklore, mythology, or occultism. Some examples of witchcraft are Wicca, Paganism, Shamanism, and Hoodoo. The number of people who practice witchcraft in the US is said to have increased in the last three decades.

 

Vodou or Voodoo is said to have originated in West Africa and is practiced in parts of the Caribbean (especially Haiti) and the southern US, combining elements of Roman Catholic ritual with traditional African magical and religious rites, and characterized by sorcery and spirit possession. It is said to be rooted in ancestral remembrance, nature, healing, and justice. It is called by different names in other countries.

 

Obeah is a specific term that refers to a series of **African diasporic** spellcasting and healing traditions found in the former British colonies of the Caribbean. Obeah derives much from traditional West African practices that have undergone cultural creolization. Obeah can be used for good or evil, depending on the intention of the practitioner and the client. Obeah often involves the use of herbal and animal ingredients, charms, fetishes, and rituals. Obeah can also incorporate elements of Christianity, as well as other Caribbean religions like Voodoo and Santeria. 

 

Santeria is Spanish for, “The Way of the Saints”.  The most common name given to a religious tradition of West African origin that was developed in Cuba and then spread throughout Latin America and the United States. According to the Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Santería is based upon the development of personal relationships through divination, sacrifice, initiation, and mediumship between practitioners of the religion and the orisha deities, who provide their devotees with protection, wisdom, and success and who guide devotees in times of crisis.   Spiritism is also incorporated.

 

Sorcery is another general term that can mean the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others or gain an advantage. Sorcery can also be found in many cultures and traditions, such as ancient Mesopotamia, medieval Europe, Native America, and Polynesia. Sorcery can involve spells, curses, hexes, potions, talismans, or incantations. Sorcery is usually considered a negative or evil form of magic and is often opposed by religious or moral authorities.

 

Are we helpless against the devil and his demons’ devices? NO, we are not! God has given us weapons and strategies to overcome the devil and his schemes. One of the most effective and essential weapons is prayer. Prayer is not just a way of communicating with God, but a way of engaging in spiritual warfare. Through prayer, we can resist the devil, claim God's promises, receive God's protection, release God's power, and gain victory.

 

In this blog post, we will explore how to fight the good fight of faith with the armor of God and harness the power of God through prayer, to win in this spiritual warfare. We will overcome the devil in three areas: our minds, our hearts, and our actions.

 

Our Minds

 

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

 

The devil often attacks our minds with lies, doubts, fears, and accusations. He wants to fill our thoughts with negativity, confusion, and condemnation. He wants to make us doubt God's love, goodness, and faithfulness. He wants to make us feel guilty, ashamed, and unworthy.

 

To overcome the devil in our minds, we must put on the helmet of salvation. The helmet covers over head which represents our mind. This means that we must believe and know that we are saved regardless of what we are experiencing.  We also need to pray with the word of God. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit, which can cut through the lies of the enemy and expose his deception. The word of God is also the truth that sets us free from bondage and fear. The word of God is the light that dispels the darkness and reveals God's character and will. This should be our mindset.

   

We need to speak the word of God whenever we pray by:

 

- Memorizing and meditating on Scripture verses that counteract the enemy's lies and affirm God's truth.

- Declaring and confessing God's word over our lives and situations.

- Asking God to renew our minds and transform our thinking according to his word.

- Thanking God for his word and his promises.

 

Our Hearts

 

The devil also attacks our hearts with bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, and resentment. He wants to fill our emotions with hatred, hostility, and hurt. He wants to make us hold grudges, seek revenge, and harbor malice. He wants to make us bitter against God, ourselves, and others.

 

To overcome the devil in our hearts, we must put on the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate covers our vital organs such as our hearts (Proverbs 4:23 In-Context 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 24. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. 25. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.) and lungs. To guard our hearts, we need to pray to have the love of God. The love of God is the bond of perfection, which can heal our wounds and restore our relationships. The love of God is also the power that drives out fear and casts out evil. The love of God is the fruit of the Spirit that produces joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

 

We need to pray with the love of God by:

 

- Forgiving those who have hurt us and asking for forgiveness from those we have hurt.

- Blessing those who curse us and praying for those who persecute us.

- Asking God to fill our hearts with his love and compassion.

- Thanking God for his love and his grace.

 

Our Actions

 

The devil also attacks our actions with temptation, sin, and compromise. He wants to fill our behavior with disobedience, rebellion, and lawlessness. He wants to make us yield to our fleshly desires, worldly values, and demonic influences. He wants to make us stray from God's path, disobey his commands, and dishonor his name.

 

To overcome the devil in our actions, we need to pray with the power of God. The power of God is the authority that Jesus has given us over all the powers of the enemy. The power of God is also the strength that the Holy Spirit provides us to overcome sin and do good works. The power of God is the victory that Jesus won for us on the cross and through his resurrection.

 

We need to pray with the power of God by:

 

- Resisting the devil and submitting to God.

- Repenting of our sins and turning away from them.

- Asking God to fill us with his Spirit and enable us to walk in his ways.

- Thanking God for his power and his presence.

 

Conclusion

 

The devil is a defeated foe who has no authority over us as children of God, but he is still a dangerous enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy us. We need to be alert and vigilant against his schemes and tactics. Our mindset must be for victory. We need to put on the whole armor of God and stand firm in faith. Finally, we need to harness the power of the word, prayer, and spiritual warfare to overcome him in every area of our lives.

 

Remember - Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).