They Fought from Heaven

They Fought From Heaven

Judges 4-5

 

ill.--a man opened his lunch box at work w/ the guys and said, yuck, peanut butter and jelly. / next day / next day / finally one of the guys said, why don't you tell that wife of yours to take a hint that you don't like peanut butter and jelly?  / "Stop talking about her that way, I pack my own lunches!"

 

America has packed her own lunch and now we are being force fed, and it is sticking to the roof of our mouth, and we need something to wash it down with but it is too hard to swallow.  We reap what we sow.  Sin leads to death, and nations are not exempt from this law.

 

Israel would mess in their own nest and then had to sleep in it.  And America is now getting exactly what we've been asking for, and what we deserve.  We eat the fruit of our own deeds.

 

5:6-8

 

These verses speak of a society w/ unoccupied highways and everyone walking, cities emptied, the people taken away in slavery and serving other gods.  They had sunk so low a woman was leading them, unheard of in those days of male dominant society.  This went on for 20 years.

 

God raised up Deborah [4:3-4]

They were afraid of those chariots, but look at 5:20-22. 

 

They fought from heaven!

 

God fought for His people from heaven, and you cannot fight against God.  Let's not give up on America too quickly.  Perhaps for the righteous sake, out of God’s mercy He will get out attention and grant us days of victory once again.

 

Sisera and his army thought their chariots of iron would give them victory, but it was the same chariots that led to their defeat!  Drave heavily into the mud, stuck, and drowned!

Psalm 20:7
⁷ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

 

And this great victory of Israel's was led by Deborah.  But another woman had the privilege of slaying the General Sisera:

4:17-21

She hit the nail on the head!

5:24-27

Nailed it!

 

Many women in the Bible were called prophetesses and had supernatural wisdom.  God used these women mightily, and His angels fought from heaven, and you just never know how God will fight battles for His people.  We may have taxation w/ lousy representation, but God controls the winds and waves, the economy, the peace...for He is still on the throne and in full control of the affairs of men.  “The king’s heart…”

 

And God would rather forgive than judge.  If only we will repent and return to Him. 

 

5:20

The whole universe is against the man who is against God.  So we need to make sure we are on His side.  "Who is on the Lord's side?"  Moses asked this when the people made a terrible decision and elected Aaron to be their new leader. 

 

The whole universe is against the man who is against God.  So we need to make sure we are on His side. 

 

Earlier, what did Moses say when they were trapped by Pharaoh and his army at the Red Sea?  “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!”

 

Success is finding out which way God is moving and getting on board!  If you don't, you're likely to have a few head on collisions you won't like.

 

Study the history of great civilizations.  Once they made a decision to fight against God and His way, they were doomed.

 

Egypt:  Pharaoh couldn't stand against God.  But the heavens fought against him and his whole army was drowned in the Red Sea.

 

Roman Empire:  They were the strongest in history, yet they are in the ash heaps of human history.

 

Babylonian Empire:  Their walls were so thick they say 3 chariots could race along the walls, but they were arrogant, saying they would live forever, but one day heaven fought against them.

Isaiah 13:19
¹⁹ And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

Babel couldn't stand either.

 

Will America continue on this course, fighting against God and His way?

 

Why did we win the Revolutionary War?  Because they fought from heaven on our behalf.

 

WWI? / WWII?

 

Why are we losing wars and fighting to stalemates now?  Because we are fighting against heaven.

 

We are at a real crossroads as a nation politically and spiritually.

 

Here’s my take on the election:  God routinely removes our weak sources of hope in order to replace them with His strong hope…if we will turn to Him!

 

Should you be concerned about election results? Although it can certainly be easy to be worried and fearful as our religious freedoms continue to be tested, we as Christians should not be scared, anxious, or feeling hopeless over who is in the White House for the next four years. Our Christian duties continue regardless of who holds this position. Here are some key reminders for every believer to keep in mind.

 

1. – God is still on the throne.

 

Ultimately the party currently controlling the White House doesn’t change what really matters – that God is in control. God is in CONTROL. Nothing happens in the world without God’s authorization. Paul makes this abundantly clear in Romans 13:1: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” God didn’t just allow each appointed President – according to Romans, he ordained each and every one of them. Sometimes God’s decisions won’t make sense to us, but that doesn’t change the truth that the Bible has proclaimed. So, when you begin to feel stressed, remind yourself first: God is still in control.

 

2. – The United States, while beautiful and the greatest country on earth, is not our final home.

 

We are citizens of Heaven. Philippians 3:20 explains where our citizenship truly lies: “For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

In the grand scheme of things, our time on earth is not just brief – it is infinitesimal compared to the eternity awaiting us. There’s only one Ruler there, and no votes are needed. Remember the old song next time election results begin to dwell in your mind:

 

“This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through...”

 

3. – Fretting about anything is wrong.

 

Consider what you are doing when you let the stress of an election affect your spirit. Worrying is a sin. Believers are to continually take our thoughts and emotions into captivity and practice temperance. The more that someone allows himself to express frustrations and anger over election results, the more he fails to focus on issues that eternally matter. Paul reminded us in Philippians 4:6: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Focusing too much on politics can lead to obsession and worry. Remember to take time each day to clear your head from politics and focus on what matters – the Scriptures.

 

4. – Place all your hope in Christ.

 

The hope of every believer is not on anything in this world. The Bible says that our hope is in God, and He alone should be where our reliance resides. The United States holds elections often, and on each occasion, God is fully in control.  [Russia? / pollwatchers?]

Our hope resides in our Savior Jesus Christ, Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We can cast all our cares on the Creator of the universe.

 

So what is the solution? It is of course important who we as Christians vote for, and it is vital that every Christian let their voice be heard in the election. However, regardless of the results, the real end result is the same: Jesus Christ is still our Savior, and Heaven still awaits us.

 

In the meantime, remember Psalm 43:5. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

 

4 statements of balance:

1.     There is such a thing as national righteousness. 

Individuals should be righteous, but nations should as well.

Proverbs 14:34
³⁴ Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

The 10 commandments were given to a nation.

 

God demands, not suggests, but demands that we select and elect moral leaders.  Our national morality will never rise above that of our leaders.

 

2.     There is such a thing as national sin.

Abortion is our national sin.  The blood of millions of innocent babies cries out to God and He hears from heaven and He fights from heaven.  We should vote for people based on issues like this.  I know you have to hold your nose sometimes to vote for some candidates, but we should look at where they stand on morality. 

 

God didn't judge Sodom and Gomorrah for their financial foolishness, but for their sin.

 

Homosexuality is another national sin of ours.  Gay marriage is quickly being legalized in many places.  Then they move to other places where they demand their rights be recognized.  Some states will resist and it will go all the way to the Supreme Court, and like Roe v. Wade one stroke of a pen is going to make it ok nationwide.  We are undoing the fabric of our own society. 

 

The next four years will see a huge surge of more national sins and terrible decisions that will help bring us toward the end and our journey to heaven!  So great!  Marijuana will be legalized everywhere.  Abortion will be broadened far beyond what is current.

 

Divorce is so easy and commonplace it rises to the level of a national sin.  Vows mean nothing to people anymore.  And the only thing keeping the rate steady is how few are getting married at all anymore!  God judged Israel for their cavalier attitude toward marriage and divorce.

 

Drug abuse / pornography / debt [buy now, pay later, stick it to your kids!]

 

These bad morals will be our destruction, not just socialism and high taxes, which are also on their way!

 

3.     There is such a thing at national judgment.  That's when the sky begins to fall!

When heaven decides to fight against a nation, it is too late.

 

So, what's the answer to the above?

 

4.     There is such a thing as national revival.

If Israel teaches us anything it is that God would rather forgive than judge.

II Chron. 7:14

 

Lord, give us another great awakening, and a national revival.  Usually they begin on a local level...may it begin here!