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Volume 12 ... #11
Critical Concepts for Us Today
One concept we should get from the OT writings is this:
If God is with us, we will not be defeated.
It was only when God departed from them ... or the ark of the covenant was missing from them, that they were defeated.
The ark of the covenant in NT is the WORD of God.
As long as we have sought God and obey HIS Word by His Spirit, we will not be defeated.
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Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: HE uttered HIS VOICE, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations HE hath made in the earth.
HE
maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; HE breaketh the bow,
and cutteth the spear in sunder; HE burneth the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I AM God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
The king set up a golden image and commanded everyone to fall down and worship that image when they heard the music played by his musicians.
If they would not do this, they would be cast into a burning fiery furnace.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to do this and when the king questioned them and told them what would happen to them if they did not do this, they replied:
Daniel 3
17-18 If it be so, our God WHOM we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and HE will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
The Philistines came against the army of Israel and their champion Goliath defied the army of Israel.
When David heard this, he was shocked and greatly insulted that anyone would do such a thing against the army of the LIVING God.
David replied:
I Samuel 17
Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
(How dare he have the nerve to do such a thing?)
When they brought the ark of the covenant into the camp, the whole army of Israel shouted.
When God sent the men to spy out the land, Caleb stood up and said:
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: HE uttered HIS VOICE, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations HE hath made in the earth.
Be still, and know that I AM God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
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Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
The king set up a golden image and commanded everyone to fall down and worship that image when they heard the music played by his musicians.
If they would not do this, they would be cast into a burning fiery furnace.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to do this and when the king questioned them and told them what would happen to them if they did not do this, they replied:
Daniel 3
17-18 If it be so, our God WHOM we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and HE will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
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David
The Philistines came against the army of Israel and their champion Goliath defied the army of Israel.
When David heard this, he was shocked and greatly insulted that anyone would do such a thing against the army of the LIVING God.
David replied:
I Samuel 17
Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
(How dare he have the nerve to do such a thing?)
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When I heard a man speak against the Bible, I was very upset that he dared to do such against God.
How dare he?
Once a young man did this in my presence. I grabbed him by his shoulders and shook him and rebuked him.
How dare he?
Once a young man did this in my presence. I grabbed him by his shoulders and shook him and rebuked him.
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When they brought the ark of the covenant into the camp, the whole army of Israel shouted.
The
enemy had enough sense to be very afraid for they knew that God, who
brought all the plagues upon Egypt, had come into the camp of the army
of Israel and who could think to stand against that God.
When
we have the Word of God on the matter at hand, we have that "ark of the
covenant" in us and nothing will be able to stand against it.
All these OT writings teach the concept Paul understood so very well:
Romans 8:31 If God be for us, who can be against us?
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When God sent the men to spy out the land, Caleb stood up and said:
Numbers 13:31 Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
Is God with us or not?
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You are going to dare to do this to a servant of the LIVING God?
Nonsense!
Doesn't all this make something rise up in you to say, This will never happen!
What is your image of God anyway to think HIM so small that HE cannot deal with the issue?
Read the OT examples and create the image of God according to the acts performed by God and overcome these pesky humans that would defy all things of God.
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Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of ME, saith the LORD.
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