Battle On

A few years ago, I drove by a church bulletin board that posted the message Battle On!

“Battle On” struck a responsive chord in my heart.
 
“Battle On” is a battle cry for Christians who fight the good fight of faith in an unbelieving, hostile world. Battling the forces of evil can burn us out if we are not watchful. “Battle On” fired me up to stay refreshed in the Lord and battle on.
 
Our scripture for this week is found in the context of the epic battle between David and Goliath recorded in I Samuel 17.
 
“…for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands. Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.” I Samuel 17:47b-48
 
King Saul and the Israeli army should have easily defeated the Philistines. But an intimidating, trash-talking giant named Goliath showed up to defy Israel and their God. Terrified by Goliath’s mocking taunts, Israel stopped battling. For forty days and nights God’s warriors stood paralyzed on the battle sidelines shaking in their sandals.
 
Enter the shepherd boy David. David sized up Goliath and decided to do battle with the giant. Note what David said and did.
 
Ø  The battle is the Lord’s. Not Saul’s, Israel’s, or David’s.
Ø  God would deliver Goliath into Israel’s hands.
Ø  David refused to retreat when Goliath moved toward him.
Ø  David ran quickly to the battle line to meet Goliath.
 
David took out Goliath with a slingshot and a few stones. He cut off Goliath’s head with the giant’s own sword! Israel prevailed over the Philistines because David battled on in the name of the Lord!
 
A married couple I was counseling confided in me that they felt they were being attacked by the devil. I responded by saying “As Christians, we are constantly under spiritual attack. Satan never backs off. Some attacks are more intense than others while some seasons of spiritual warfare are longer than others. But the battle rages on…everyday. And we must battle back in the name of Jesus Christ.” 
 

• Life is a battle. A fight.  A contest.  A struggle between spiritual forces of good and evil.

 
“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
 
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm.”                                             Ephesians 6:11-13
 
You and I must constantly battle for our faith, our family, our friends, our ministry, and our nation.
 
Like David, you and I must run toward the battle, not away from it. Soldiers on active duty are on duty twenty-four seven. As good soldiers of Jesus Christ (I Timothy 2:3-4), Christians stand guard against the enemy and take the battle to the adversary when he attacks. 
 
The battle is the Lord’s and victory belongs to the Lord (Proverbs 21:31). God trains our hands for war and our fingers for battle (Psalm 144:1). The Lord strengthens us for battle, subdues our enemies and makes them turn their backs to us (Psalm 18:39).
 
Our battle cry is the same as David’s: I come against you in the name of the Lord (I Samuel 17:45-47).  
 
How is your battle going? Are you battling on? Are you taking the fight to Satan and his demonic forces? Are you running toward the devil and running him out of your territory? Does the devil tremble because he knows you are not afraid of him?
 
My fellow Christian, battle on! The battle is raging all around us. Battle on. Charge ahead. March onward. Fight forward. No matter what circumstances you are facing, battle on. Resist the pressure and temptation to give in or give up. Battle on!
 
Fight, fight, and fight some more. Refuse retreat. Never surrender ground you have won for the Lord. Stand tall. Do not fall. Do not stall. If you have taken a hit, do not sit. Get up. Rise up with renewed resolve. Battle on!
 
You and I will battle until we take our last breath. There is no option but to battle when the battle is on.
 
Someone reading this devotion really needs to hear the words BATTLE ON.
 
As you and I engage in the firefight of faith, do not fear. Do not faint. Rise up with courageous, confident, overcoming faith in Jesus’ mighty name. Battle on brothers and sisters in Christ.   
 
 Battle on in the name of the Lord!
 
“Fight the good fight of faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”        I Timothy 6:12
 
A Word For Your Week:  The battle is on so BATTLE ON!