" And he went up from thence to Beersheba.
And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.
And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well ". Genesis 26:23 -25.
After receiving our desire for victory and peace within our borders, what next?
Do we relax , beat our chests and regale our listeners with stories of our past and ancient battles and victories; and go our merry way until the next call to battle?
God's ability to arise and deliver His people is not in question.
Even God's enemies know the awesomeness of the name and the power of God and they tremble . James 2: 19 .
But the wicked will not relent in their wickedness because the Satanic force using them goads the wicked further and further along the path of destruction ; to make them to dare God by doing evil continually .
In the day of battle, God is on the side of the righteous and He is against the wicked .
"Salvation is far from the wicked; for they seek not your statutes". Psalm 119:155.
When we have attained our Rehoboth , the next step is to move up to Beer-sheba " the Well of the Oath" ; the place of remembrance , of refreshing and renewal and of worship and sacrifice. Genesis 21:33.
We remain victorious by building our altar and by pitching our tents in the place of proximity to God , as Isaac did in Beer-sheba ,
Beer-sheba is the place of God's visitation and affirmation of covenants. Genesis 26 : 24, 32- 33
" Pitching tents at Beer-sheba " is the basis of continuous victory for the righteous , who by faith have believed in the covenant of God's mercy and salvation through Jesus Christ .
No Christ , no salvation and no victory for the Christ-less life.
God's intervention manifests in all situations whenever and wherever His people , the righteous , are under attack by the enemy.
What is the condition for resounding victory over the fury of the oppressor in the day of battle?
"For everyone born of God overcomes the world . This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God ". 1 John 5:4- 5 .God will always arise and intervene on behalf of those who abide in Him in the place of obedience and sacrifice. John 15: 4 - 8 .
Are you abiding in Christ or do you choose to forget God and His word , but suddenly, when you are under fire from your enemies , you remember God ?! Then and only then , you run to God, crying out to Him for help ?
It is one thing to expect God to "arise and let his enemies be scattered ! "( Psalm 68:1);
it is very easy to quote scriptures profusely, to pray very loud prayers and sing earth-quaking songs of praise of how " the earth trembles for the Lord reigns !" , "O Lord come down and manifest your power!" .
Yes , the Lord reigns , let the earth tremble and let His enemies flee before His awesome presence!
But are your own challenges and your challengers "trembling " and budging an inch ?
It is very easy to remind God of how He delivered Daniel from the lions' den; easy to say you " are putting God in remembrance of His word and promises concerning the richness of His mercy and of His mighty deliverance for His people "; but it is another thing entirely to be on the Lord's side , to be daily in His presence.
The proper way to qualify for God's mercy and deliverance is to be on the Lord's side PRIOR to the day of battle , that is BEFORE you sense impending annihilation by the enemy .
Daniel was steadfastly on the Lord's side , even in the face of death. Daniel 6:3-13.
Are you on the Lord's side ?
Really ? Does God " understand " the unrepentant sinner ?
"When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?" Isaiah 1:12.
" And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood " . Isaiah 1: 15..
Jesus said deliverance is received by abiding in His word . John 15: 6- 8 .
Are you on the Lord's side or are you , yourself towing the path of the wicked ; far gone , in the same hell-bound express train with the wicked ? Psalm 9 : 16,17
If yes, then unless you repent , today , now ; your reward shall be the same as the reward of the wicked .
"Were
they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at
all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among
them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down,
saith the Lord" . Jeremiah 8:12.
Defeat and a casting down in the day of battle is not the portion of the righteous.
".... Men and brethren what shall we do ? " Acts 2:37-40.When your ways and your mind are pleasing unto God because you are on God's side , you are on the winning side ; therefore you have overcome your enemies, both the physical and spiritual ones .
Be on the winning side, always . Repent and believe in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For a life of continuous victory , move up to Beer-sheba ; the place of proximity to God .
Build and repair your altar there and pitch your tent there in God's presence, always
As you confess the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour , in your words and by your deeds you have been saved and you will never be put to shame. Romans 10 : 8-11.
Amen.
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