Calvary Chapel of Jonesboro

Dunkirk:  God Determines Who Wins!  Proverbs 21:31

08/08/2012

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The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD. Proverbs 21:31

May 1940 was a defining moment for the western world. These were the days that opened the 2nd World War. Hitler's Blitzkrieg had destoyed the French lines and were quickly encircling the English army for the purpose of anihilating it. That is why His Majesty King George IV requested that May 26th should be observed as a day of prayer as they committed their cause to God. The scene that Sunday was breath-taking. Churches were full beyond measure - and lines ran outside their buildings and into the streets. Their cries went up to God - and God acted in His power to grant victory to those who honored Him.

Today's proverb has to do with victory in battle. God is sovereign - even over the battles and wars that are fought on this planet. And the evacuation from Dunkirk is an example of God working miraculously to determine just who would win WW2. If the Germans had destroyed the English Expeditionary Force in those days - the battle for Europe would have effectively been over. But God engineered several miracles to determine who would win the battle that day.

Three major miraculous events took place because of the prayer offered that day. First was Hitler's halt of the Panzer divisions that could have crushed the British. They were less than 10 miles from overrunning them and destroying them when Hitler, who had been ruthless in his pursuit and quick "Blitzkrieg" tactics, suddenly had them stop. He would rely on air power to finish the job. The second miracle was that a storm came up over Flanders that was so severe that it effectively grounded the entire German air-force. The Luftwaffe could not opeate in this area - and stayed on the air fields. The third miracle was that an unnatural calm came over the English Channel between England and France - in spite of the storms raging on the French side. This calm enabled the English to bring every boat conceivable to Dunkirk to ferry the Elglish Expeditionary force back to England. These boats along with the rest of the English Navy took British soldiers over the channel for three days - as they were covered in a dense fog that prevented the German Luftwaffe from flying and destroying them as they crossed.

There were other miracles in those days. Some beaches were attacked in thsoe days - yet it was evident to miraculous proportions that the troops were being protected by the providential hand of God. When about 400 men were being machine-gunned and bombed, systematically, by about sixty enemy aircraft, one man who flung himself down with the rest reported that, after the strafing was over, he was amazed to find that there was not a single casualty. Another man, a chaplain, was likewise machine-gunned and bombed as he lay on the beach. After what seemed an eternity, he realized he had not been hit, and rose to his feet to find that the sand all around where he had been lying was pitted with bullet holes, and that his figure was outlined on the ground. Truly astounding things wre happening on every hand - and it was very apparent that God's intervening power was responsible for it. In the writings of Officers and men alike there were a myriad of statements that they were seeing the hand of God, powerful to save, delivering them from an enemy that should have destroyed them.

All England declared June 9th a day of Thanksgiving for God's mercies. On that day the people of England read and sang Psalm 124 which is a Psalm that speaks of God's deliverance. It was thought that it would be amazing if England could save 30,000 to 35,000 soldiers in their retreat. Yet God, by His sovereign power, allowed them to save over 335,000. No one doubted that God had worked miraculously on England's behalf.

This is what God is trying to say to us in Proverbs 21:31. The horse may be prepared for the day of battle, but Jehovah is the One Who will determine who will be victorious. Old Testament law forbid Israel from relying on horses in battle. So, when horses are mentioned here, it can be easily assumed that the armies of the wicked are using them - not Israel. These horses may be prepared for the day of battle - but they do not assure victory. Who is victorious is determined by God Himself. Hitler surely had the superior force - both in army and in air-force. But the British had God - Who answered their prayers when they humbled themselves before Him. Truly it was a Ninavesque day of repentance and prayer on May 26th, and God answered in like fashion to their prayers.

Victory was determined by God in the month of May 1940 - and God is still determining who will win in the end. God has not changed - nor will He - when it comes to the outcome of any and every event. The question is not whether God will work on our behalf. The question is whether we will turn to Him - believing that victory is not determined by how big the army or how awesome the supposed cause. Victory belongs to God - and He will give it to whomever He wishes. May we be wise to always seek His favor in everything we do.

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Demolishing Strongholds by Wisdom - Proverbs 21:22

07/17/2012

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A wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust. Proverbs 21:22

Throughout history there have been battles won and cities conquered more due to the wisdom of men than due to the strength of their army. From these historical events we learn why it is better to be wise than just strong. Wisdom can bring down city walls and demolish fortresses once thought impregnable.

It was not the strength and power of Menalaus' Spartan army that brought the mighty city of Troy to its knees. His army fought for 10 long years seeking to destroy that city and did not prevail. It was, however, the wisdom of an older Greek warrior that he used that eventually won him the city. That wise Greek warrior was the one who came up with the idea of the Trojan horse. This horse was build as an a false offering to the offended Trojan gods - but was filled on the inside with Greek soldiers. They waited until the middle of the night and crawled out of the belly of the horse to open the gates of the city to the rest of Menalaus' army - who subsequently sacked and destroyed the city. Thus it was wisdom, not power that won that battle.

In like manner it was wisdom that brought down mighty Babylon. Balshazzar sat within the walls of that great city certain he was safe. Yet it was the wisdom of the Medo-Persian army that won the day. A branch of the Euphrates River wove through the city like a canal. When the general of the Medo-Persian army diverted the water to where the river dried up - there was a entrance under the wall of the city where the water once flowed. The Medo-Persian army followed the dry canal bed into the city. The Babylonians were defeated and their city taken before they even knew what was happening to them.

Over and over again history records wise men who bring down the strongholds of the mighty. Every time it happens men are shocked that once again the battle does not always go to the strong or to the one with the largest army. The battle goes to the wise - and more often than not to the ones who trust in the Lord. Gideon was a marvelous example of God's wisdom using a far smaller army to defeat one hundreds of tiems larger than their own. The idea of holding torches, blowing trumpets, and the war shout of the men was used by God to defeat a much larger army.

We also need to remember that God is able through His wisdom to tear down any strong man's stronghold in which they trust. Too often we become intimidated by the world and by what seems to be strongholds of thought - strongholds of besetting sin - strongholds of ungodliness - and a myriad of other strongholds that the enemy of our souls has erected in our society. But it is through God's wisdom that these are torn down and overcome. Remember then, dear saints that Jesus Christ is made unto us - wisdom. It is through Him and through the gospel that we can tear down any mental, spiritual, or physical fortress that holds men in bondage to sin, self, or Satan. Do not cower before any man - any doctrine - or any sin that lifts itself up agaisnt the knowledge of God through the gospel. God will prevail - and His spiritual weapons can demolish strongholds and any lofty thought brought up against the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hold fast to His wisdom and to His way - for that is the way to prevail and win any victory that must be won!

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What Does REAL Strength Look Like? Proverbs 16:32

03/26/2012

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He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. Proverbs 16:32

It is interesting that the wisdom of God puts greater value on persistant patience, longsuffering, and goodness than on sheer physical strength. Self-control was something that was more valued than military heroism. Who truly is the strong man? Is he the guy who can flex his muscles and take up a sword and lead an army? Or could it be the one who can control his own passions and prevent a battle from ever needing to take place?

Could it be that part of the downfall of Goliath was the anger with which he carried out his attack on David? Could it be that in running to the battle line, he did not take care to fight not just with strength, but with wisdom? Could it be that Egypt's anger and rage led them to ride foolishly into the midst of the Red Sea - when everything should have told them to halt their attack? So often the ability to rule our spirit is one of the most difficult things we have to do in life. To halt our tongue from speaking in anger - to refrain from entering the fray when our feelings are hurt - to stop a fight before it begins - all these are not easy things to do - and require a depth and strength of character that is often lacking in men and women.

Samson was indeed a strong, mighty man - physically. But he did not "rule his spirit" at all when it came to anger - and other more dangerous passions. In the end - though he did many mighty acts of valor - he was overcome by the wiles of a woman who knew his lack of control over his spirit. Great fighters know how to get their opponents angry - for then they will no longer be controlled by their mind - but by their rage. It is in such moments that the majority of them make a fatal mistake - and the more talented - more controlled boxer - finds his opening and knocks out his opponent with little more than a blow or two.

We too need to be men who not just physically are strong - but are spiritually and morally strong as well. But the truly wise among us know that such a feat of strength is beyond our flesh. It is only Christ Who truly mastered sin and took it to the grave with Him. He rose victorious over it - and granted to us, through His resurrection, the power to win this illusive victory. It is His power that will allow us to master the most difficult foe of all - that of mastery of our own spirit. Then, dear brothers and sisters, is when we are truly mighty - when we are truly strong - and when we are truly a champion. Just know that the only way this can happen is by coming to know and walk with the ONLY Champion - Jesus Christ!
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How to Keep From Falling on Your Face - Proverbs 11:14

10/22/2011

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Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory. Proverbs 11:14

How do you make good decisions in life?  Even better said, "How do you make decisions that will not end in you falling on your face?  That is what is addressed in the proverb for today.  There is a way to be confident that your decisions will not come back to haunt you later.  Let's take a look at what God's wisdom has to teach us today about this.

This proverb is all about being willing to seek and take advice.  This does not mean that we cannot know what to do ourselves and do it, but it does warn against the person who thinks in all matters that what is in his own mind will suffice.  This man does not seek counsel at all.  When we read the passage it speaks of having "NO" guidance.  The problem here is that we have a decision maker with an excessive amount of pride in his own thinking.  The willingness to seek and accept advice is a plus - because godly counsel is a must if we are going to walk in God's ways.  We even need to be able to hear and consider advice that we don't want.  Some think that anyone they consider inferior to themselves is unable to offer counsel.  That is a sure way to fall.  It is when we have an abundance of godly counsellors in our life that we will have victory.  The word for victory is "tesuah" and it means to have deliverance, safety, or victory.  It speaks of a military context, of course, but goes beyond that one to also speak of deliverance from sin and from making foolish decisions that harm us later. 

When thinking about this verse two examples come to mind.  The first is that of Balaam.  He sought after and received God's counsel (even though he did it by divination).  But after receiving God's counsel - he decided after seeing the possibility of a huge payday from Balak, to ask God if He had any other ideas concerning cursing Israel.  When God allowed Balaam to go (but only speak what God says) Balaam took it as far more freedom to do what he wanted (which was to make a lot of money from Balak).  Since he would not take counsel from God - the Lord intended to kill him.  Were it not for the counsel of his donkey - he would have been killed that next day.  Balaam had what he wanted to do in his mind - and would not listen to God's counsel.  Fortunately for him the advice the donkey he had just beaten got through to him for a while.  Unfortunately for him - his donkey was not able to speak a second time to keep him from counselling Balak to send his women among the Israelites to get them to commit sexual immorality with the men - to get God to curse Israel.  In the end, Balaam's desire for money and power cost him his life - and eternity in hell. 

The second example is that of king Nebuhadnezzar from Babylon.  His pride and arrogance was leading him down a very destructive path.  He felt "he" was sovereign over his own life - and that all his power and authority had come from himself.  First God sought to counsel him by giving him a strange dream - then Daniel interpretted it.  Daniel let Nebuchadnezzar know that if he did not repent of his pride and arrogance, admitting that God alone was sovereign, he was about to experience life as a beast.  Nebby listened, but did not take the advice.  He fell from being king to being an ordinary beast of the field for 7 years.  He ended that time by lifting his eyes and finally taking counsel to admit that God alone was sovereign.  It took a while, but he learned that in the abundance of counsellors (God and Daniel) there is victory. 

Where are you?  Are you one who thinks that your own understanding is sufficient?  Do you shun the offer of advice and counsel of godly men and women?  If you are, I would encourage you to seriously consider today's proverb.  It warns of a fall that is coming your way.  It also gives you advice about having an abundance of godly counsellors to help you know wisdom - know victory - and know the favor and blessing of God.  A wise man would take this counsel.  A foolish man would seek no other guidance than that which his own mind produces - oh - and he will fall flat on his face eventually.
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