WTFMT 58 FOR HGM ON 27 NOV 18

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-58
TEXT: "And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done." (Judges 14:5-6)

I. VICTORY

A. As an enemy against the children of God, Sihon became God's enemy. It is not up to the children of God to conquer this enemy by their own strength alone.
B. But as an enemy, judged and defeated by God, he is delivered into the hands of the children of God for the execution of God's will. We may have a will as Moses once did, zealous to get our hands upon the enemies to give them several stinging swats, sending them sprawling to the sand.
C. That is not what God had in mind for Moses, nor for us today. It is God who delivers our enemy into our hands. It is then they become powerless in our grip. We can see this in the case of Samson.
D. A young lion roars against him, and the Spirit of God comes upon him. Samson is not characterized by a spirit which says, "I'll show you that I've got the power!" This is not an antagonistic spirit which comes upon him, making him so mad that he tore the lion to pieces. In the Bible "wrath" is only appropriate in God; it does not belong in the heart of man.
E. Samson "had nothing in his hand." This refers to no natural faculty to execute his feat. "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:5)
F. With Him (in the full sense of the meaning) we have in our hands all that is necessary to execute His will. In the final analysis He give the victory which we think we have won.
G. If there is to be forward moving on in our victorious Christian living, we must deliver ourselves into God's hands, and take our orders from Him. It is not for us to move in our intentions, fulfilling our own wills. It is not for us to execute our decisions upon the enemy. Watch this in the Bible. Read the Bible!
H. Do not spend more time listens to preachers and teachers and reading books than you spend in the Bible. The Bible is your place of anchorage in truth. In the Bible watch the prerogatives of God versus the prerogatives of man. And learn!
I. Moses does not have to change his spirit of peace to one of antagonism simply because the king of Heshbon is moving against him. Moses had never thought that he had to knock over every king in his path. His basic concern was the will of God. God delivers kings into the hands of the children of Israel, who receive the victory God gives.
J. Later, out of the will of God, Israel herself is defeated upon a number of occasions. This whole thing of victory moves upon God's prerogative, His intentions. "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6)
K. Moses does not move against Sihon. "Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz." (Deuteronomy 2:32) David does not move against Goliath. Sihon and Goliath move against the children of God, and thus against God. In Moses and David there is a response from God.

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

A. I am never disturbed by enemies outside my soul. If any enemy sets his power and forces against me, that is his problem, not mine. I have a strong high tower. "For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy." (Psalms 61:3) I have no need to set myself against the enemy. It is not in my heart to strive with the enemy. If it were, it would distract me from my focal point upon God and His will.
B. We are not to be against anyone or anything. We are for God. If God is against someone, that is His business, not mine. My business is to serve God, doing want He wants me to do. If He wants me to confront a hostile enemy and defeat him, fine; that is what I will do, but I will do it in His strength.