“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realm” - Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)
We all like to imagine life as easy. But after liberation from Egypt as the children of Israel moved on to the Promised Land life was never like a walk in the park. Having seen all the miracles that had led them this far, like the parting of the Red Sea, there were constant upheavals. The Israelis would occasionally complain and long for their old life back. “But the people were thirsty for water, there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst” (Exodus 17:3).
Sometimes enemies came up to fight them back.
One such were the Amelikites. “The Amelikites came and attacked the Israelis at Rephidem. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amelikites. Tommorow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands” (Exodus 17:9). Then Moses went up high up on the mountain with Aaron and Hur. “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelis were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amelikites were winning” (Exodus 17:11).
Here is the significance of this passage. Being also in a journey having been delivered from the land of oppression and darkness we left behind once we knew Christ our lives are not spared of battles. We too face financial Amelikites. There are disease Amelikites. We face armies of discouraging Amelikites. We encounter personal relationships Amelikites.
Some of these Amelikites stand like immovable giants. To defeat them will not just be on our physical prowess alone, but like Moses we need to go high up on the mountain and fight the battle at a much higher spiritual level. When the battles are won in the spirit, as we clearly see here, all the Amelikites around us, will fall down and victory will come.
Today let no Amelikites stand in your way. Hold your hands high up in prayer and fight them. “A thousand will fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you” (Psalm 91:7). And where you are tired find someone to pray with you just as Moses did. Victory is yours.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today as I face Amelekites, I pray in the powerful name of Jesus that you deliver me and bring victory.
Related upcoming events
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
