Warriors Arise: August 30, 2023
Matthew 4:12-17 (NKJV) Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles:
16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
I am going to hit this again today because I have to realize not every battle that crosses my path is one for me to engage. I can help by praying for them, but some battles are meant for me to pray and move on while others I am called to engage wholeheartedly until they get the win. Is is important to know which ones to engage and while ones to pray as I continue the path God has before me. Jesus comes out of the battle with the enemy and the first news He hears is John, the John who baptized Him, is now in prison. Maybe it wasn't the first thing He heard but it was important. What would you have done if you had received this news?
The battles rage on around us. Each of us have our own battles to fight. Many times our paths will cross another's and we are there for a We have to be in tune with the Father so we know which battles we are to engage. Jesus did not go and fight John's battle. He remained focused on what He was called to do. It isn't that He didn't care about John. He loved John. John was His cousin. John was the first one to recognize who Hewith othrs was and that we in the womb! John would always have a special place in His heart but He couldn't let His love for John supersede His love for the Father and the Father's plan for His life. He had to keep His eyes on the Father. Scripture tells us, "He did only what He saw His Father doing." I wonder if we get into more battles than what God wants us to be involved in because we pick up someone else's battle? This puts us out of place, missing what God has for us in that time, and could take us out early, like King Josiah back in the Old Testament. The king of Egypt is coming through Josiah's land. Josiah rallies his troops to go out to war. The king of Egypt sends word to King Josiah, "God, your God has sent me to this other nation. Stay back or I will have to fight you." I am paraphrasing that but you can look it up (2 Chronicles 35:20-25). King Josiah was not where he was supposed to be and it got him killed. God got ahold of him at an early age and he became the greatest king to bring revival and reformation to God's people. He got caught up in someone else's cause and it killed him.
You and I may not die by entering someone else's battle but we could lose our passion or drive. We may even be so discouraged or fatigued by the battle we stop moving forward with God. We tell ourselves we can step back and let others do for us or fill our position because we need a break. God does take us for times of refreshing and restoration in order to minister to our fatigue and realign us on the path He has for us. Many times in Scripture we see Jesus off praying, meeting with His Father. These times refreshment and restoration could be before or after a battle. I can't go from one battle to the next on a continual basis. I have to take the time to get replenished. I have to be restored body, soul, and spirit by being in the Father's presence, walking the path He has laid before me, and engaging in the battles He directs be to be a part of. In King Josiah's recorded history, we do not see that he asked God if he is to go to battle against the Egyptian king. Even after the king of Egypt tells King Josiah, he doesn't verify it with God.
This is such a huge revelation for me. I am the extreme of where I want to help everyone I see in need which can be a plot opposite for most people who could literally run into someone and still not see the accident was caused because they wouldn't come along side and fight as their brother's keeper. The later, got tangled up in a battle and caused it to be more challenging because they stayed in their lane and wouldn't slow down, assist where they could help, and engage against the enemy. They try to plow right through injuring the one God place upon their path to join in battle to defeat the enemy they were fighting. Or they stopped and got rear ended because they didn't help the one in front of them so the one that came behind hit them. A pileup on your highway.
We need discernment. we need to know if someone is just passing by in a lane next to our's like the king of Egypt or if the individual is in our lane and we are to slow down and help.
Father, I want to serve You well. I want to be healthy and whole so I can win the battles before me, moving forward on the path You have for me, and to help those on my path. I pray for discernment. As I am learning to discern which battles I am to engage to fight along side of. Will You remind me of King Josiah or the illustration of the highway? Which ones do I let pass by and which ones do I slow down and assist. I pray for clarity in my mind and a knowing of what You desire. You are my God and I want to completely walk the path You have for me. I do not want to be fatigued or discouraged when entering my own battles. I want to help those in need but I do not want it to thwart the plans You have for me. I pray for eyes to see You. I pray for ears to hear You. I will watch and listen. I will see You and I will hear You in Jesus' name.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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