WTFMT 60 (FROM HGM ON 22 JAN 19)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-60

TEXT:   "And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land."  (Deuteronomy 2:31)

 I.  BATTLES BRING BENEFITS

     A.  Battles bring spoil which enrich our lives. The territory of Sihon became part of the inheritance of Israel because this king made himself Israel's enemy.  The conquest of this portion of the land did not result from Moses' decision and strength.

     B.  Don't get the idea that we are going to jump on the enemy and beat him to the ground because he is there.  Moses moved under the commandment of God and we should do likewise.

     C.  "At that time" may be the most important elements in every victory God gives,

           "And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain:"  (Deuteronomy 2:34)

There is a time for judgment (such as the flood); there is a time to kill and a time to heal (see Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).  Out of God's time will spell unfulfillment and defeat.  If we so focus upon the mighty works of God then we lose sight of important details and ramifications it may send us to defeat.

     D.  Let us look at the details in Deuteronomy 2 which led to the powerful actions of God.  We tend to overlook many things.  Why does Israel work such havoc and destruction?  Because they were angry?  No! They are moving under the commandment of God.  If we move on the basis of our anger, we sin.

          "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:"  (Ephesians 4:26)

    E.  Do not allow anger to be our directive force and the basis of our actions.  Our direction should come from God.

   F.  Some confrontations are pleasant while some are unpleasant.  The character of the confrontation should not alter our sense of our needing our Shepherd.  He is with you in all your situations.  There He wants to help us.

   G.  It is very dangerous or at least useless to attempt to defeat an enemy which the Lord has not delivered into your hands. 

         "And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people."  (Deuteronomy 2:33)       

Receive that which the Lord gives us, but allow to go by that which the Lord is not giving us.

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

    A.  One victory may lead us into another victory.   

           "From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us:"       (Deuteronomy 2:36)

   B.  One victory may actually be a foundation for a future victory early.  This is our forward thrust in God.  We experience victory after victory taking city after city, in the will of God.  For there is no victory out of the will of God.  The fullness of victorious Christian living is found in a limitation bounded by the will of the Father.

   C.  It would be well if we learned the secrets of the battle and victory early in our Christian life.  As long as we live here in the flesh it seems that the enemy and the battle are ever present.  But, we may have the victory, always, if we learn the secrets.