I want to exhort you on the need to depend on God in your lying down and in your rising up if you want to advance in safety
[1 John 5:18-21 KJV] “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not, but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”
We all know that we have been redeemed to serve the Lord, and we are making a journey with Jesus Christ to the promise and to a new life. It is, however, important for us to establish that “the whole world lies in wickedness but whosoever is born of God keeps himself and the wicked one does not him”. We cannot play games in this journey towards the promise because wickedness is real, but more real is the power of God.
We have no doubt that when an enemy rises against us, one of us will chase a thousand and two will put ten thousand to flight. But “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up? For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges”. [Deuteronomy 32:30-31 KJV]
One can chase a thousand and two can put ten thousand to flight only when;
- Their (the enemy’s) rock sell them
- Our Lord shut them up and
- Our God fights for us? (See Joshua 23:10)
This is the truth. We cannot win the battle against the many evil that is rising against us, except there is a supreme hand that is fighting among us for us.
There is no way you and I can win the battle against evil and wickedness that is in the world except by the hand and might of God. No one can chase a thousand, and make two put ten thousand to flight except;
- Their rock sells them
- Their gods shut them up
- Their God is fighting for us
Remember! That the whole world lies in wickedness; but whosoever is born of God overcomes the world. I believe that we can overcome and emerge victoriously.
The simple steps to overcome are:
- Follow the priest that bear the ark
- Continue steadfastly in doctrine, fellowship, and in prayer, and in giving.
- Keep yourselves from idols
- Keep the ranks.
Follow the priests who bear the ark of God:
Whenever Israel was marching, the priests who bear the ark of the Lord went ahead of them, then the camp of Judah followed, then the Gershonite and Merarites who bear the tabernacle. Then the camp of Reuben followed, then the Kohatithes who bear the furnishings of the tabernacle. Then they are followed by the camps of Ephraim and Dan.
Follow leadership and maintain the shout of the king among you.
Continue steadfastly in doctrine, in fellowship, in prayer, and in giving:
Deuteronomy 28: 6-7, and verses 15 and 25 teaches that when we hearken diligently to do all that the Lord shall command, then one of us will chase a thousand and two will put thousand to flight. The enemy shall come in one way and flee in seven ways, but if we refuse and rebel, we shall rather flee before our enemies. Do you remember what happened at Ai, Israel fled before the enemy because Achan brought in an accursed object. We must learn to hear and obey the commandments of our God.
Remember we are redeemed to serve and to worship. We must worship in Spirit and in truth. When Israel camped, the tabernacle and the priests were in the centre and they camped around it. The tabernacle was kept in the middle, then the priests and Levites surrounded it, then Judah to the right, Reuben to the south, Ephraim to the west, and Dan to the north. God was central to the life of Israel and must be central to the new testament church.
When we serve the Lord, He protects us against external aggression. We must keep the worship of the Lord central to our lives.
Keep yourselves from idols and from sin:
The Bible teaches us to keep ourselves from idols. We must not serve anything other than God. “He that is born of God keeps himself”.
Keep the ranks:
Finally, remember to keep ranks. Find your place and serve faithfully there. Do not break ranks. We must learn to be submitted and orderly. We must keep our estate and not usurp authority.
I pray that you shall be protected from external aggression and you will advance safely to the promise, Amen!
Stay blessed, I love you
Pastor Simpe Bediako
