Righteous Battles

We must never despair; our situation has been compromising before, and it has changed for the better; so I trust it will again. If difficulties arise, we must put forth new exertion and proportion our efforts to the exigencies of the times.
George Washington (1732-1799, American President (1st))

Josh 7:10-12
So the LORD said to Joshua, "Rise up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? "Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things. "Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst. NASU

The Israelites were in the middle of a successful string of battles, then all of a sudden a loss. Many fell and Joshua sought answers. The first question was addressed to the One who could give him a real perspective of where they were, and so it was that Joshua asked the Lord, why. Joshua wanted to know why the Lord had allowed Israel’s defeat and he quickly got an answer.

Rise Up! was God’s answer. Why have you fallen on your face, Israel has sinned. I believe that God may be speaking those same words to us this morning. Government can never change people and run a righteous world. Never has, and never will, but many Christians have depended on government to do these things while they chase after the things of the world with those that they condemned.

Rise up Church, we must now destroy and remove from our homes and churches the ideals of the world and put Christ first. We must get off of our faces and on our feet, and cleanse the Church of God. We must not just speak holiness, but live it. Then and only then will we be able to face our enemies. The battle is not over, it has just begun, and we know that in the end…we…will…win…God Bless.

Pastor William