This stallion is a ready warrior. His posture reveals his muscular body. He is moving forward, taking action with his head held high. His body reveals his strong brave heart and his mindset. Even his name tells of his valor: Hammer. He is entering a conflict to win a battle.
We are not people who turn back and are lost. Instead, we have faith and are saved.
Hebrews 10:39
King Asa was a good king in the Old Testament who honored God. He not only destroyed idols and pagan places of worship, but also led the people of Judah to obey God. He fortified the cities by building walls, towers, and gates so that enemies would be kept out. Not only did he have an army of over 1/2 million, but they were well equipped, well trained, and brave. As a result of his obedience there was peace in the land for ten years.
Faith and Action Work Together
But, the Ethiopian army with a million man army advanced against Judah. Twice the manpower came against them, yet King Asa, a ready warrior, went out to meet them.
Asa prayed to the LORD his God, “O LORD, you can help a weak army as easily as a powerful one. Help us now, O LORD our God, because we are relying on you, and in your name we have come out to fight against this huge army. LORD, you are our God; no one can hope to defeat you.” 2 Chronicles 14:11
The account of this victory gives the LORD the credit.
The LORD defeated the Ethiopian army when Asa and the Judean army attacked them. They fled. 2 Chronicles 14:12
Then a prophet comes to see the king with a warning and a word of encouragement. See 2 Chronicles 15:1-8 for the complete word. He warns the king to stay faithful to God and He will be faithful to him.
But, there is something important you need to remember when you go out to fight, besides asking God for help. Remember that our battles are spiritual. We are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against demonic powers that keep people bound in addictions and in sin. So we need to rid ourselves of hate because it leads to murder.
If we say that we are in the light, yet hate others, we are in the darkness to this very hour. If we love others, we live in the light, and so there is nothing in us that will cause someone else to sin. But if we hate others, we are in the darkness; we walk in it and do not know where we are going, because the darkness has made us blind. 1 John 2:9-11.
What is the remedy to stop hating? Forgiveness, of course. Just as we are forgiven by Jesus, so we must forgive also.
Will you answer the call? Will you be a ready warrior for Christ?
But you are the chosen race, the King’s priests, the holy nation, God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
The apostle Peter knew Jesus, he was one of the disciples of Jesus who was close to Him. Peter thought he was ready to die for Jesus. But, Jesus warned him he would deny he even knew Jesus. When Jesus was arrested, Peter cut off a man’s ear in an attempt to defend Jesus. But, Jesus put the man’s ear back on. Later, when Jesus was being tried, Peter was identified by a servant girl. And he denied he knew Jesus, 3 times. This broke Peter’s heart and he wept. He realized his weakness.
Do you know your weakness? Will you ask Jesus to help you instead of defending yourself?
Peter did not run away or kill himself like Judas, who betrayed Jesus and turned him in for 30 pieces of silver. Jesus found Peter, accepted him back, and gave him work to do. He was loved, he loved, and he would do the work that love called for.
Jesus gave us this assurance,
“The world will make you suffer. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” John 16:33.
Be brave in your fight against sin! Get rid of any unforgiveness and hate. Pray for your enemies.
Pray for God’s help.
Take that positive action in faith. Be a ready warrior.
Scripture quotations are taken from the GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION, SECOND EDITION, Copyright©1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Rereading this I get excited all over again . Yes I am a warrior ready for where You will send me.
This teaching reminded me of who I am and not to fear but to have faith that Jesus has prepared the way.
Yes I am Warrior Ready
Yes, you certainly are, Myrna. Love and Blessings!
Amen. We weren’t able to access due to low battery as we waited in the 4pm sun two hours on the roadside , with a sheet over us .waiting for service We read the word and praised the God who sees , protects and provides., as written in Romans and Psalms . God sent his faithful servant my son in-law. Instead. We got home in the dark.
Safe and sound. I guess we all earned the warrior button. ✝️🔯😎✌️
I’m glad God sent your son-in-law to help you return home safe and sound. Blessings.
I think forgiveness takes courage!
Is it truely possible to forgive injustices ?
How does one forgive rape? Murder? Or the abuse of a child? Or the pain and suffering and torture done to an innocent person? I’ve always thought about these types of questions since I was a youth and still contemplate many of these questions and situations that I can not seem to shake out of my mind…..
And is it possible to just wash ones hands of such matters and pawn those issues off and be rid of all the injustices, greed, and lies that exist from history and the present?
Yes, forgiveness does take courage. The sins you mentioned are indeed terrible. All sin is bad and separates us from a just and good God. Jesus was innocent of sin and it took the shedding of his innocent blood to forgive sin. He was mocked and tortured on a cross. From this cross of suffering Jesus said, “Forgive them Father! They don’t know what they are doing.” (see Luke 23:34).
Jesus asked our heavenly Father to forgive those who were torturing Him.
Has someone offended you? You can let go and allow God to set you free by forgiving, or letting go. Forgiveness does not mean excusing the sin. It means setting your heart free to move on with your life. Forgiving is an important part of healing. It means allowing God to deal with the offender. Just laws punish those who do evil. To forgive and pray for your enemy defeats evil with good.
Everyone sins. Everyone offends someone sometime. Do you want to be forgiven? Ask Jesus to forgive you and believe in Him. Then you need to forgive others as you have been forgiven.