Spiritual warfare: The Lord Will Fight for You.

Today we come back to my topic on Spiritual warfare. I thought about sharing a different message with you today, it being home coming and all. Then I thought, the life of the church and its people are important.

We must know how to live and act in a world that is hostile to us, with the enemy, the ole devil who seeks to steal our hearts and minds away a little at a time.

We must be careful and diligent as we live in front of God.

I would remind you that the Devil is always on the look out, always searching and always seeking to devour us, to ruin our name and to tarnish the name of Jesus. We must be careful!

So today we come back to the topic of Spiritual warfare, and with it lets go to the Old Testament book of Exodus.

Exodus is an important book my friends, for it is in Exodus that we begin to witness the fact that God fights for us. He loves us and desires to protect us.

I want you to know that just as He called those believers in the Old Testament to come and follow Him, to trust Him and to enter into a covenant with Him, God has done the same for us. He came and called us into the light, saved us and has entered into a new covenant with us by the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross for our sins.

In the Old Testament the covenant was ratified with blood and so this new covenant is as well. This one by the precious blood of Jesus.

So we must live and walk in front of God, but understand the devil is out there and he seeks to harm us.

Live for God, trust Him and let him fight your battles, amen!

Lets go to Exodus chapter 14, look at verses 10-14

Exodus 14:10–14 ESV

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

This is a good picture for us to see as the children of God, the reason being that we so easily forget what God has done in our past, and when faced with the difficulties of the present we grow afraid instead of trusting in the Lord.

So lets begin with this thought today.

If there is one thing I believe the Devil enjoys using against the children of God, it is fear.

Fear is a tricky weapon of the devil, it stops and immobilizes the person, it can keep them from following the Lord in obedience. It can keep God’s children from peace and enjoying the reward and victory of the Lord.

If you are here today and you are a born again child of God, what do you have to be afraid of?

Now think with me for a moment, Who gives life? God, Who knows your life? God. Who knows the number of your days? God. God will fight for us, help us and love us enough to redeem us from the curse of sin? God. Then my friends fear not!

But lets go to our story her in the biblical text of Exodus.

The children of Isreal have seen God at work, my gracious they have seen 10 different plagues come down on Pharoah and his kingdom. Each time he hardened his heart against God, each time God won the victory.

Now this last plague was especially horrific, the first born of every man or beast has died except those in the land of Goshen, the children of Israel ho were obedient to the Lord’s command and placed the blood of a lamb on the door posts of their home. Those homes the death angel would pass over and they would be spared....

But that night even Pharaoh’s own son would perish as did many others, a great cry was heard over the land and finally Pharaoh told them to leave.

Exodus 12:29–32 ESV

29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. 31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. 32 Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!”

So they left Egypt… and now they have come to the Red sea.... but suddenly in the moment the children of Israel realize that Pharoah has come after them, he did not keep His word.

Exodus 14:5–9 ESV

5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.

Pig-huh-high-roth Bay-ugh - Zee-fun

Pharoah and the other Egyptian leaders realize they have just let their entire slave force walk out, they have no one to work and do all that needs to be done there, especially the making of the bricks and the massive building programs.

Now with the sight of Pharaoh, the Children of Israel are afraid and fear the worst… and they start complaining and crying out in fear.

Look again at our passage, :10-12

Exodus 14:10–14 ESV

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

Exodus 14:10–12 ESV

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Do you hear the fear and frustration in their voice, What was it Moses.. did you bring us out here because there were not enough grave in Egypt?

Man, they is so cold....

You see fear had already crippled them, they were afraid and talking against Moses, really my friends against God. There words essentially say, we do not trust you, and we no reason to change our minds...

Fear is a tool of the devil, man was never meant to be afraid as they lived in front of God. Sin makes a mess of everything , it ruins our life and walk in front of God.

Let me ask you a question… What are you afraid off?

What keeps you from trusting God, from taking Him at His word?

Consider that question.... now ask yourself is that bigger or stronger than God?

The answer is NO.

Now lets move on......

The children are like us, they have been through a lot, they are wore down and honestly they are tired.... now listen to this my friends, here is the most opportune time for the devil to attack you.

When you are wore out, down and out… or just checked out… that is when you can expect an attack from the devil against you and or someone close to you.

Now the children of Israel, they are encamped by the Red Sea, this huge body of water...

Now one has told them what happens next.. and suddenly they realize that Pharaoh and his entire army are in pursuit, they have come to strike them and take as many as they can back into captivity...

At the sight of this, the people cry out…, we just looked at verse 10-12 a few moments ago, they are fearful, they have lost all courage and trust… they done know what to do...

Exodus 14:10–12 ESV

10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”

Now look at verses 13-14

Exodus 14:13–14 ESV

13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

exodus 13-14

Exodus 14:13–15 ESV

13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” 15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.

Look at that response… Fear not and stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord....

Exo

Why could he have such strength in a time of such challenge… here is what I think. He never took His eyes off God. Now you might look at me and say, pastor that is convenient, that is a simple answer but I tell it is true.

Here is why I say it, God’s presence was with them.

Exodus 13:21 ESV

21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.

Listen the presence of God was right there, Moses never look His eyes off God. He was there and He would deliver them.

Verse 14, Moses told them the Lord would fight for them…

Now listen carefully my friends, no matter the battle, the Lord is the one who fights for His people. Moses reminded them Pharaoh might be coming but it is not your fight, the Lord would fight for them.

They only needed to be silent and see the salvation of the Lord has He delivered them.

Here is an exceptional truth my friends.... The children of Israel had to learn to let God be their Warrior. The one who would fight their battles...

The same is true for us, we are not able nor are we capable. But the Lord is and He will.

The children of Israel didn’t know what to expect, but they could trust God to lead them out to enjoy His victory.

Now move forward just a minute… Verses 15-18

Exodus 14:15–18 ESV

15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

Here is the plan for success my friends.... follow the Lord’s command.

The sea is in front of them, they are on the shore line… the Lord tells them to move forward and you Moses lift up your staff and stretch your hand over the sea to divide it and the people will go forth on dry ground...

Wow...

Now I want you to know, Moses isn’t necessary to the miracle, but he is a visible sign for the people to see and have their faith boosted if you will.

But Moses stood there and raised up His staff and his other hand and the waters moved back… and the people began to cross ....

Here is one of the greatest miracles of the Bible, God driving back the water of the Red Sea so that His children could cross on ground made dry by God which only minutes ago had been years under water.

The people thought the impossible… they felt as if they were going to perish. They had water in front of them and all of Egyptian army behind them…

All Moses told them to do was fear not, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, this day He will fight for you.

Friends when the battle comes, we are powerless but thanks be to God that He will fight for us and He is all powerful

Friends seeing no way past your obstacle with your physical eyes, can you trust Jesus, refuse to do anything but stand for Him and keep moving in the direction He is leading you!

Why have I asked you this.....???? Because the devil wants you to give up, stop and forget about the truth of what lies in front of you as a child of God.

Now lets move to my last thought for today...

The Children of Israel thought they would loose their life this day… it seemed impossible.

I want to remind you, at times we believe it is impossible, whatever that is before us is to big, to deep, to difficult. But I am reminded over and over again, that with God all things are possible!

Listen again to what Moses told the people in the face of uncertainty...

Exodus 14:14 ESV

14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

The Lord will fight for you… Did you ever hear your parents say, hush and listen to me. Right here it is.. hush, behold the Lord.. He will fight for you.

My friends what they had to learn is the same lesson we have to learn.

The battle is always to big for us to fight.. We must let the Lord fight for us.

The children of Israel had to learn to let God be their warrior.

Listen my friends, these people were not fighters, they were brick makers, house hold slaves etc.... and they didn’t have to be a warrior, God was their warrior.

Now lets go back to the Bible for a moment.

Exodus 14:16–18 ESV

16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

Man, God gives them the instructions, the children of Israel will go through on dry ground, as they cross over the other side. The Egyptians will pursue them and I will get the glory over Pharoah.. and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.

So Moses does as the Lord says, and the angel of the Lord moved between Pharoah and his Army and the children of Israel as they went across the sea bed to the other side. At the right time, the Lord allowed the Egyptians to follow

You see there are a couple of themes in the Scriptures that we must pay attention to as the children of God.

Verses 22-25

Exodus 14:22–25 ESV

22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”

As the Egyptians give chase, the ground seems to be wet again at the Lord’s command, it says their horses and chariots drove heavily, they were getting stuck. The Egyptians knew the children of Israel had no problem, and they begin to recognize, it is the hand of the Lord!

Verse 25 gives us a great testimony.... “Let us flee from before the Lord for the Lord fights for them against us...” Wow....

Now let me tell you the rest of the story like Paul Harvey used to say....

Exodus 14:26–29 ESV

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

God gave them the victory, He fought for them, He was their warrior.

I want you to see something here,

You see there are a couple of themes in the Scriptures that we must pay attention to as the children of God.

God is our Warrior.

God leads us into impossible battles so that He might be our warrior and the nations would know His name.

God will give the children of Israel victory this day, we know that the Bible tells us that God drowns all of the armies of Egypt. The Egyptians know without a doubt that the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob has fought for and rescued the Israelites.

He fought for them and He will fight for us...

But why then we do loose the spiritual battles of our life…

Here is what my ole professor said....

We do it in our own power and we make a mess of it.

My friends we have a friend named Jesus and He is king of Kings and Lord or Lords, He has promised he would never leave us or forsake, He is a friend that sticks closer than any brother. He will fight for us.

He is our warrior… why in the world would we want to do anything in our own strength?

The children of Israel grew afraid, fear set in…they saw the battle as impossible.

What battle are you facing that seems impossible?

What can you do about it… Nothing. You are hemmed in from every side.

Be silent then, stop and let the Lord fight the battle for you.

pray!

Exodus 14 ESV

1 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so. 5 When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the mind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7 and took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while the people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9 The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them encamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon. 10 When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. 11 They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” 15 The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.” 19 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20 coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25 clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.” 26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. 29 But the people of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

Spiritual warfare: The Lord Will Fight for You.

Introduction

1. The Difficulty of Fear....

2. The Lord’s Command....

3. Victory Won