How Battles are Lost and Victories are Won - Part 1 of 2

Will the fire, and Mrs. Bashir Brady Junior welcoming you to another broadcast of the Baptist Bible want to thank all of you who have written this recently expressing your appreciation for the message from God's word and particularly those of you who have helped with the financial support of the program. We are dependent on our listeners to provide that support so that we can continue on all of the stations are address is the Baptist Bible. Our top 1737, Cincinnati, OH 45217 hope that you will write yesterday Christians are engaged in a warfare.

Many seem to have difficulty keeping that constantly in mind, but it is vital that we recognize in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 11 put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the fall we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. That clearly indicates that there is a warfare of tremendous magnitude in which we are involved. This involves principalities and powers the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places and then in the book of first Peter chapter 5 verse eight it says be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil is a roaring lion walk is about, seeking whom he may devour whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Many of the references could be cited but these two will be sufficient to emphasize the fact that we have a great enemy, Satan is described as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Not just his purpose to intimidate. He would like to devour us. He would like to lead us totally down the wrong path into darkness and evil.

I believe that the greatest of the battlefields is right in our own heart because we have the old nature constantly battling against the new web desire that is given us the divine grace to please God and obey him to honor him to live righteously, and godly in this present evil world, but the only item that you are still the same about the time you make the assumption that it is not that improvement has been made in that department. You soon discover that the same human weaknesses and frailties the same inclinations toward thinking wrong and acting wrong are still there, but according to this passage in Ephesians chapter 6 the battle is not limited to that conflict that goes on within us there principalities and powers. There are those in positions of high places. There are satanic influences in so many areas of life around us. So in the culture in which we are living we see a tremendous battle ranging today more and more opposition is voiced against true Christianity more more criticism lodged against those that will hold firmly to the principles of biblical truth. So considering the fact that we are engaged in warfare how to speak to you on the subject, how battles are lost and victories are one.

There's much to be learned from looking at the Old Testament Scriptures. These things are written for time for our learning and admonition refund.

As Paul writes to the church at Corinth wants to turn to the book of first Samuel and in this historical record, we will find first in chapter 4 how battles are lost. And secondly, in chapter 7 how victories are one first Samuel chapter 4 verse three and when the people were coming into the camp, the elders of Israel said wherefore the Lord smitten us today before the Philistines. Let us fix the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us that when it cometh among us. It may save us out of the hand of our enemies not in that one verse we have some insight into the matter of how battles are lost.

This was a dark day in Israel's history.

Their enemies were standing in great opposition against them and they were suffering terrible losses in the second verse of this fourth chapter it says in the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel. And when they joined battle. Israel was smitten before the Philistines, and they slough of the Army in the field about 4000 men in X hard to fathom. We are startled when we read of the casualty figures in some of the wars in which country has been engaged in recent time, but this was one skirmish.

This was one that and 4000 men die. Israel had a favorite place in the plan of God. These are God's chosen people.

These are people with whom he has made a covenant, he is promised to be with them to protect them to defend them. Think with 4000 men be lost in the time of the people were perplexed that they failed to give attention to some of the teaching that had earlier been presented to them, failed to consult God's word when they thinks this devastating loss. You would think that it would drive him back to considering some of the things were on record as to what God had revealed to them through his service of previous years but that was not the case during the book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 and we can see some of the information that God had provided for them concerning his relationship with them and how they should respond in shaking and desiring his continued health.

Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 14 and thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand or to the left to go after other gods to serve them. God already given them his law. In Exodus chapter 20, and said that would have no other gods before me. And now, here's a reminder you not to turn to the left panel to the right you not to go after any other gods to serve them, but it shall come to pass, that, if thou hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day, that all these curses shall come upon me and overtake me. Here's what's one of the following if you reject my word.

If you dissipate my law there are curses that are coming your way. Verse 25 the Lord shall cause the to be smitten before thine enemies is one of the persons here's a result of going after false gods.

Here's a result of failing to keep his word and obey his commandments. You going to be smitten before your enemies and that's what we've just read about in first same in chapter 4000 go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them.

The words are going to be terribly defeated. You're going to be in a state of confusion, eagerly running in all directions trying to flee from the enemy and not be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth you're going to be sky. So the reason this initial defeat had come to the people was because they had neglected to give attention to God's word to his law to his commandments.

They were living the way they want to believe they were worshiping other gods, which really seems to an incredible thing when you think of all that God had done for them.

How God had sent the planes on the Egyptians and brought them out of bondage sustain them in all their wilderness wanderings been so graciously good to them and that he would be influenced by the pagans around them in the land and worship gods of gold and silver and the various gods of man's own imagination rather than to worship alone the true and living God. Basically, these people were willing to do anything to overcome this dark day of adversity, except submit to God's will, and how often we may struggle with that very thing in our own nature. Since the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked I say something I would do anything to resolve this difficulty.

If I can just change this situation that I'm facing do anything then you look at God's word and see what God says about how to deal with and it's as though well I'll do anything with that. I'll be glad to try to implement any kind of a plan denies any kind of a scheme turn any resource but you go to God's word and here is what God explicitly says we ought to do and there is been used had to everything except what God says so when we consider the question of how battles are lost. The first thing we observe in looking at the plight of the people here is that they failed to consult the word of God and to consider it as being the guy that they so desperately needed at this difficult time. So having suffered this defeat. I said we gotta fix it.

We gotta correct the situation and didn't say we got a call on God that inside without examiner own hearts. They didn't say we got a repent of our sins and turn from idolatrous practices. We gotta come up with a plan.

And so it seemed reasonable that if they could just get the ark of God that everything would be well the ark of the covenant was that place upon which rested the mercy seat. The two cherubim's facing each other. It was it was sacred place.

It was representative of the very throne of God, not the ark itself was the presence of God but God was present, where the ark was located. When at the same time, the people were responsive to his commandments. So there's and if we can just put the ark will save us, and so the people sent to Shiloh that they might bring the ark. There and he lives two sons half my and Finney's were the priests that were to carry the ark, but this further indicates the terrible problem that existed.

These two men were evil. Their lives were corrupt and yet they were carrying the ark of the covenant from the Harkless verse five of for Sematech before work on the ark of the covenant of the Lord came in the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout so that the earth rang again excited. I decided they had found the solution to the problem. Everything was going to be well, the Philistines heard the noise of the shout.

They said what you mean that the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews and they understood that the ark of the Lord was coming to the camp and the Philistines were afraid, for they said God is come under the camp and they said war unto us for that have not been such a thing before goal under us, who shall deliver us out of the hands of these mighty God.

They are the gods that smoked the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness they heard the report about what God had done for these people in Egypt where we are in deep trouble if the presence of this means that God is now going to be present in this battle to be defeated but sweet. We've heard how the Egyptians were devastated when those plagues came upon them so they said we are staying together, we gotta be courageous. We gotta be strong, they say, be strong, quick yourselves like me in the we Philistines that ye be not servants of the Hebrews as they had been to you quick yourselves like men fight the Philistines's fault. And if you drew was smitten and they fled Everyman into his tent and there was a very great slaughter for their fill of Israel. 30,000 foot man that the first defeat was tragic. 4000 men died. Now they make the assumption that we have corrected the situation we are now prepared. Please brought up the ark of the covenant back and it's with us. Now they go out to battle and 30,000 men that's it's hard to imagine this. Such tragic results that a man comes to Shiloh and brings the information verse 13 and when he came to Eli.

Eli was the high priest of this time he sat up on the seat by the wayside, watching for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came to the city and told all the city cried, and when Eli heard the noise of the crying he said, what mean that this noise of this tumult, and the man came in hastily and totally live that Eli was 19 and eight years old and served for 40 years, is now coming down near the end, even as far as to be expected. Apart from the tragedy that suddenly the falls in 98 years old. His eyes were DM that he could not see was suffering the effects of old age and the man certainly Eli, I am he that came out of the Army and am Flynn today out of the Army and he said put is there done.

My son and the messenger answered and said, Israel fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people and my two sons also often not in Finney's are dead, and the ark of God is take brings the sad news this old priest and said in the battle.

Your two sons would also been serving as priests but were corrupt men have died and it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate and his neck break and he died for. He was an old man and heavy and you judged Israel for years. It was very heavy man possibility that when he got the news that the ark was taken and his sons died that Eve had a heart attack or stroke, but he fell backwards probably was already dead when he hit the ground.

It broke his neck. What a terrible time, but only has the Army been defeated but now the high priest the prominent leader of the day has died and his daughter-in-law finances wife was with child near to be delivered that when she heard the tidings of the ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and her husband wouldn't day and she bowed her self and prevailed for her pains came upon her. She gets the word and goes into labor at about the time of her death. The women that stood by her said in her fear not for the Hezbollah's other trying to cheer her up before she actually died, saying, at least you can be relieved you got a lot of bad news today, but you have given birth to a son, and that meant a lot to Jewish women something very special to have a son, but she answered not. Neither did she. Regarding, and she named the child Ichabod, the last thing she did before departing this life is to give the child a name name the child Ichabod, saying the glory is departing from Israel and that indeed was indicative of the dark seeing the prevailed in this time.

The glory is departing because the ark of God was taken because her father in law and her husband and she said the glory is departed from Israel for the ark of God is take so little that the entire picture before us and ponder the question, how is it that battles are lost. The first language of already noted is that there was failure to consider God's word to going back to those words of the book of Deuteronomy. They could've quickly been reminded the problem was not a lack of courage on the part of our soldiers not a lack of military strategy. But the problem is we have become idolatrous. And God has indicated that when that is the case, he will no longer sustain us and bless us in our enemies, but will be driven from before them. The second thing they were trusting the ark of God instead of the God of the exit.

If we can just get, we can just bring this sacred box into our midst. Everything is going well. This points to the great error of trusting form and tradition rather than trusting God himself. How easily one can fall into that.

In your own personal bad. You may feel from time to time that you are losing ground. You may feel in some instances, a Jew been really defeated just wiped out and you start searching while I lost the back, but it may be as it was in this case the first of all, you have not considered God's word to get the real answer if it's necessary.

Secondly, you may have done what they did. You may be trusting and religious form would show religion to still go to church regularly.

I still read my Bible. All I like most people I don't read as much as ultimate. I read my Bible and I pray not successful or just going through the form just going to church as part of our weekly routine. Just praying, even on a daily basis is so this is my daily obligation, but there's not any real communion and fellowship with God. It could be just for person has some strong preferences about the particular order of service about some of the concepts of how religious service Army carried on in about what really pertains to that which is a part of divine worship and maybe some community to that particular trip tradition of that particular form that the assumption is made as long as I've told tenaciously to this as well as I have not compromise on this issue and that all was well between me and God. But you can be very firm in your conviction about certain matters and sometimes those that take parliaments in people's minds are not really big delicious.

After all, just a matter of what they're accustomed to say I like it this way, that of the other and there is no biblical foundation for but if you're looking to those Wood forms rather than to God himself. There's a problem trusting orthodoxy rather than the God of whom the truth speaks make the assumption well, I've come to the knowledge of the truth.

I know the truth about what's happening to you. I think too many times we get her mind as long as I have seen the error of free will is him and I have seen and understand the truth of grace.

I'm sobbing not in position to win all the victory that I may ever desire) stand truth oppose the concept of salvation by free will and good works.

I believe salvation by grace. Certainly we ultimately salvation by grace is what the Bible teaches. But if the assumption is where I need to be. I am strong because I pull the fundamental doctrine to be a problem since people had died if we got the ark okay but defeat shamus talked about those that trust in horses and chariots, rather than trusting in the Lord doesn't matter what it might be the one I think are wrong with the ark of the covenant.

It was indeed the ark that God had commanded them to make it was the ark where God's presence had been manifested of the times the problem was that now they got their eyes full of God and all into this piece of furniture sacred as it was, which had no innate power of its own and could not well be that sometimes not only when individuals failed to win the battle in their own life, but churches suffer defeat could not be that even though we are looking at those things that of themselves may be worthy and good in their place.

They have taken the place of God himself.

If you look at the church instead of Christ, the head of the church. Look at the doctor instead of Christ of whom the doctrine speaks you look at the form in the ritual rather than looking to the one who is to be esteemed and it all. I pray that the message is been a blessing to you today and I hope you will be back with us next time. As we continue the subject how battles are lost and victories are one you would like to get the complete message on CD requested when writing us at the Baptist Bible.

Our box 17 own 37, Cincinnati, OH 45217 two listen to a share.

Bradley Junior bidding goodbye and they got English as a nice and the lives of the nice and I began the and all