By:              Bro. Peters Obentey

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8th Annual Youths Bible Lectureship

Theme: Casting Down Every Negative Imaginations

INTRODUCTION

This world is a battlefield. A battle field for survival and for breakthrough. However, the battle for physical and material breakthrough is one, and the battle for spiritual breakthrough is another.

The former can be fought by human intellects and skills in different fields of endeavour. But the latter can only be fought spiritually. And spiritual things can only be spiritually discerned.

But what is a battle?

• A battle is defined as a prolonged fight between organized armed forces.
• A long and difficult struggle.
• Synonyms: a fight, conflict, armed conflict, clash, struggle, skirmish, encounter, confrontation, fracas, contest, war etc.

Spiritual battle or warfare is defined as the Christian concept of fighting against the works of preternatural evil forces. It is based on the biblical belief in evil forces, or demons, that are said to intervene in the human affairs in various ways (Wikipedia).

That we are fighting against spiritual wickedness, principalities and powers in very high places is a fact the Holy Spirit has revealed to us.

That this battle has no respect even for the church, the nation and of course the individual Christian is a proven fact.

Thus, this fight or battle can only be Lord’s, because the arms of flesh will fail any man.

In this discourse, we shall be oscillating between the state of our nation, our mindsets as youths due to the fear factors that drive us to win or lose, the interrelations between the physical battle and spiritual battle, we shall then seek the solutions to those problems by making our battle the Lord’s for Him to revive us.

THE STATE OF OUR NATION 

The Bible says:

• “Sin is a reproach to a people, but righteousness exalts a nation (Prov. 14:34).
• “When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice, but when the wicked are in authority the people mourn.” (Prov. 29:2).
• He says again, “where there is no vision the people perish…” (Pro. 29:18).
• “My people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6).
• “If the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do”? (Ps. 11:3).

So, when a nation does not recognize God at its center or pays lip service to the place of God in its affairs, that nation will not go far – And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” (Dan. 4:32).

Israel had a fair share of such a godless time in her history. A 40-day journey becoming a 40-year journey in the wilderness – According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection (Num. 14:34).

There was a time when there was no king in Israel everyone does what was right in his own eyes without recourse to the law of God and they pay dearly for it – In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6).

Israel and the battles with the Philistines who took the Ark of God from them – ¹ And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines…. ² Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines…. ³ And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies….”  (I Sam. 4:1-9).

Israel and the defeat from the battle with little Ai, a very small city – ³ And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not weary all the people there, for the people of Ai are few.” ⁴ So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. ⁵ And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water (Jos. 7:3-5).

When the leadership of a nation gets it wrong, there are bound to be consequences manifesting itself in various challenges such as: nepotism, tribalism, and sectionalism, leading to wanton corruption, and consequently joblessness, hunger, poverty, fraudulent activities as everyone struggles to survive at all cost. Indiscipline, Sinful living, fornication and adultery, homosexuality and lesbianism, armed robbery, kidnapping and the list is endless.

These are banes of our nation due largely to leadership failure in providing the requisite enabling environment for economic prosperity for the nation. In the midst of all these comes the scramble for survival of the fittest. There will be a “drive to win” at all cost, and the “fear of losing out” thus making it worse as it drives some to more acts of corruption, greed, covetousness and “YahooYahoo.” If care is not taking, the Christian youths will also be forced to get involved in the corruption.

But this is where we shall know those who are true children of God.

• This is where we shall know the Daniels, the Shedracks, and the Meshacks and the Abednedgos (Dan. 1:8-15, Dan. 3:16-30).
• This is where we shall know those who will refuse to join the world around them, but can stand out to be different.
• This is where we shall know those who will conform to the world, and those who want to transform the world around them, and to be a living sacrifice to the Lord – ¹I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:1-3).

 INTER-RELATIONS BETWEEN THE PHYSICAL AND THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE 

It is God’s will that we prosper both in body, souls and spirit – ² Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. ³ For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth (3 John 2).

 Therefore, when we are struggling in the spiritual realms it will affect our physical activities and vice versa. But if we are spiritually healthy and strong, it will help us to fight the physical battles. But if we are weak in the spirit, it will be a laborious struggle to win the battle.

Thus, before Jesus began his earthly ministry he fasted for forty days and forty nights during which time he was tempted by the devil. But because he was spiritually fortified he could overcome the devil and his temptations (Matt. 4:1-5).

The Bible says there are many things that war against our soul, such that we cannot do the good things we desire to do. There is a constant inner war within our being, distracting us from carrying out the perfect will of God (Gal. 5:16-17, Rom. 7:15-25, Rom. 8:5-15).

TRUSTING GOD TO FIGHT OUR BATTLES 

The Old Testament Prophets reminded us of the battle as the Lord’s.

• The Psalmist says, “Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord watch over the city the watchman watches in vain (Ps. 127:1-2).
• “It is not by power, it is not by might, but by my Spirit says the Lord” (Zech. 4:6).
• David said to Goliath and the Philistines “Then all these assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear, for the battle is the LORD’s and He will give you into our hands” (1Sam. 17:47).

Jesus knew we could not fight the battle alone by ourselves, so He says, “Come unto me all ye that are labored and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”… (Mt. 11:28-30). Again, He says, “ In this world you will have trouble, but in me you will have peace. Be of good cheer for I have overcome the world” (Jn. 6:33). The Holy Spirit says, “… through trials and tribulations we shall enter into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).

We are told that the weapons of our warfare to fight and overcome this battle are not physical or carnal but they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds and casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring such to the captivity, and every thought to the obedience of Christ (2Cor. 10:4-5).

Thus, the Holy Spirit gave us the panacea to fight this battle in order to win. For we can only conquer and be more than conquerors through Christ our Lord (Rom. 8:37). Paul says, “Finally brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might (Eph. 6:10).

Now listen to what the Holy Spirit says further, He says, “Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world. Against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore having your loins girt about with (Eph. 6:11-18).

• The truth (John 1:17, Jn. 8:31-32, Jn. 17:17).
• Righteousness (as breast plate) (Heb. 12:14, Col. 3:5-10).
• The gospel of peace ( 1:14-18, Rom. 10: 12-17, Dan. 12:3).
• Faith (as a shield. Rom. 5:1-4, Heb. 11:6).
• The word of God (as Helmet of salvation/sword of the Spirit) (Psalms 19:7-11)
• Prayer and supplication (Matt. 7:7-8, Luke 18:1, 5, John. 13:13-14).
• Perseverance (Mark 13:13, James 1:12)

THE LORD CAN AND WILL REVIVE US

Paul says, he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him (Phil. 4:13). Again, he says, he never boast to be already perfect, but this one thing he does, “He forgets the things that are behind and reach forward to the things that are ahead, pressing towards the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:12-14).

But the panacea for spiritual revival is to seek God’s favour and presence in our lives. God says, those who seek Me early shall find Me (Prov. 8:17). We are told to remember our creator in the days of our youth when the evil days have not come (Eccl. 12:1).

Prophet Isaiah says, “Behold the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither is his ears heavy that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2).

Thus, God says, “If my people which are called by name shall humble selves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sins and heal their land – (2 Chron. 7:14). Because of the sins in the land of Israel, God send the palmerworm, locust, cankerworm, and caterpillar to eat up their seeds when they planted (Joel 1:1-12). When they rend their clothes and cried to him, He told them not to rend their clothes but rend their hearts – (Joel 2:12-13).

Thus, the Lord will revive us as individuals, as a people, as a church and as a nation if only we genuinely repent from our sins (I John 1:8-9). David said, “If I regard iniquity in my heart you will not hear me” – (Psalms 66:18). Again, he says, “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee” (Psalms 119:11).

We need to fast and pray for God’s revival to fall upon us. Jesus recommends fasting and prayers as a solution to fighting most of our battles (Mt.17:21).

We are expected to pray without ceasing for our ultimate revival (Luke 18:1-5, 1Thes. 5:17). For we can only do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Phil. 4:13). And only in Christ are we more than conquerors (Rom. 8:37).  

CONCLUSION

Brethren, we have seen that whether as a nation, as a people, as a church or as individuals, our battle can only be won through God’s mighty hands. He is described as the Mighty Man in battle. He is the captain of the army of Israel.

 David relied on the LORD of the battle hence he was able to defeat Goliath of the Philistines (1 Sam. 17:47). We must know that we can do nothing without him. Thus, it behooves us to put our total trust on Him.

For those who trust in the Lord shall be like the mountains Zion that shall not be moved (Ps. 45:5). “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

May God give us the requisite faith to rely on Him for our victories in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen!

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