GOD IS A MAN OF WAR
Part 3

“One man of  you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God,
he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you”
(Joshua 23:10.

6. LACHAM

This word means “to battle, to fight, to prevail, fighting, war.” It is translated fight or fought 149 times in the Bible. God is a God of rest, but he is also a fighting God. That fighting spirit that comes over you to fight against evil and wickedness is from God. We are to be gentle and nurturing mothers but also fighting mothers, rising up like roaring mama bears to protect our children from deception and evil.

Exodus 14:14: “The LORD shall fight (lacham) for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

Deuteronomy 20:4: “For the LORD your God is he that goeth with  you, to fight (lacham) for you against your enemies, to save you.”

If God fights for us, shouldn’t we fight for others?

How blessed to know that God fights for us, but if God fights for us, don’t you think we should fight for others?

• We fight for the precious unborn souls who are being murdered in the womb and cannot fight for themselves. We cannot lay down this fight.
• We fight the fight of faith for those needing salvation, healing, and deliverance. It’s not enough to say to someone, “I’ll pay for you.” We need to get alongside them and continue in committed prayer until we see the victory. Faith is not a feeling; it is a fight!
• We fight in prayer for our fellow saints who are suffering persecution and imprisonment. Hebrews 13:3 (NLT) says: “Remember those in prison as if you were there yourself. Remember also t hose mistreated is you felt their pain in your own bodies.”
• We fight for the downtrodden and those being unjustly treated. We fight in prayer against child trafficking.
• Currently we are in the fight against a fake election. We must join this fight to stand against this abomination of fraudulently seeking to steal an election. Yes, God calls this an abomination (Proverbs 25:15, 16). Read also Leviticus 19:36; Proverbs 11;1; 16:11; 20:10; and Micah 6:11. Are you boldly standing up for truth? Are you praying daily, with your family and others?

Proverbs 31:8, 9 (NET): “Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying. Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”

In 1 Samuel 25:28 Abigail (wicked Nabal’s wife) states that David “my lord fighteth (lacham) the battles of the LORD.” What battles was David fighting? His own? No, they were the battles of the Lord. God ordained these battles.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. He now sits at the right hand of the Father, but also dwells in us by the Holy Spirit. He wants us to continue His work of destroying the works of the devil. Therefore, we take action when we see evil creeping into our family.

God fights for us, but He want us to fight too!

There is an amazing principle in God’s Word about battles. God promises He will fight for us, but He does not do all the fighting. He wants us to also do our part.

Let’s look at some examples:

Deuteronomy 7:2, 16: “When the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee (God fights); thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them (you fight) . . . thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee (God and you fighting) .”

Deuteronomy 7:24: “He shall deliver their kings into thine hand (God fights), and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven (you fight).”

Deuteronomy 9:3: “The LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face (God fights): so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly (you fight), as the LORD thy God hath said unto thee .”

In 1 Chronicles 14:15, 16 God gave the strategy for the battle against the Philistines: “When thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines (God fights). David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer (you fight).”

In Jeremiah 51:20-24 God speaks to Israel: “Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee (you fight) will I break in pieces the nations (God fights), and with thee (you fight) will I destroy kingdoms (God fights); And with thee (you fight) will I break in pieces the horse and his rider (God fights); and with thee (you fight) will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider (God fights) . . . “

Do you get the principle of God and you fighting together?

PRAYER:

“Dear God, I thank You that You are my Warrior. You are with  me to fight my battles. But You also want me to fight. Please strengthen me for the battle. Help me to listen intently to You to know how you want me to fight for You are the great war strategist against the devil. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am fighting with God to destroy the works of the devil.

GOD FIGHTS FOR YOU:

Deuteronomy 1:30; Joshua 10:14, 42; 23:3, 10; Nehemiah 4;20; 2 Chronicles 20;17; and Zechariah 14:3.

Did you know, I am now doing a podcast for you each week called FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS w/ Nancy Campbell? I know you will be blessed and encouraged. Go to www.aboverubies.org and you’ll see the icon. Or go to http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com

GOD IS A MAN OF WAR
Part 2

“And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
And five of you shall chase an hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight:
and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword”
(Leviticus 26:7, 8).

We are currently studying the different Hebrew words of God as a “a man of war.”

3.     IZZUZ

Another Hebrew word meaning “forcible, an army, power,” It is also used to describe God in Psalm 24:8: “Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong (izzuz) and mighty.”

4.     TSABA

This is another very familiar word for war in the Bible being used 482 times. It means “a mass of persons organized for an army, a multitude of warriors, battle, soldiers, warfare.” Are you getting to see how much war is talked about in the Bible?

It is used 261 times to describe God as “the LORD of hosts” as in Psalm 24:10: “Who is the King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.” Every time  you read “The LORD of hosts” in the Bible you are reading about God as the mighty warrior, the One who fights for his people, the One who commands the heavenly armies.

It is also used about the company of women in the home in Psalm 68:11 (CJB): “The women with the good news are a mighty army (tsaba).” The women at home are a mighty army, preparing and training the future nation.

5.     CHAYIL

This is another familiar word for armies in God’s Word. It means “an army, wealth, valor, virtue, strength, soldiers, war.”

David calls God this name in 2 Samuel 22:33, 40: “God is my strength and power (chayil) . . . For thou hast girded me with strength (chayil) to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.”

The Bible uses this word to describe valiant soldiers. Read 1 Chronicles, chapters 7 and 12 to read about all the “mighty men of valor (chayil).”

I love Psalm 110:3: “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power (chayil), in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou haste dew of thy youth.”

Th New English Translation says: “Your people willingly follow you when you go into battle. On the holy hills at sunrise the dew of your youth belongs to you. The NET commentary explains that this refers to the king’s army of strong, youthful warriors.

The message of this Scriptures is that they were WILLING WARRIORS! Can I be described as a willing warrior? Can you? What about our children? Are we raising them to be willing warriors in God’s kingdom? Other translations say:

GW: “Your people will volunteer when you call up your army.”

HCSB: “Your people will volunteer on your day of battle.”

TPT: This Passion translation is most correct when it states: “Your people will be your love offerings.” The word willing is ndabah and means “spontaneous, abundant, free will offering.” It is the same word that is used of the sacrifice offerings the Israelites FREELY offered to the Lord.

God wants us to be willing to get into the battle. Do you remember when young David faced the giant Goliath? Yes, he was only young, most probably a teenager. When the Israelites (who were trained soldiers for the battle) saw Goliath they “fled from him, and were sore afraid” (1 Samuel 17:24). But what did young David do? When the giant came near to him, he “hasted, and RAN (quickly, speedily, headlong) toward the army to meet the Philistine (1 Samuel 17:48). What a difference! David’s confidence was not in himself but in the “God of the armies of Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45).

What is our response? Do we run to the battle or run from it? Are we full of fear or full of courage?

DO WE RUN TO PRAYER MEETINGS WHERE WE CAN FIGHT THE BATTLES OF THE LORD? Our greatest victories are fought in prayer.

But there’s something more amazing yet. This word chayil that is used for God and for valiant men of war is the same word that is used to describe the woman in Proverbs 31. You know it so well but let’s read it again: “Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies.” Yes, the word virtuous is chayil, the same word that is used for men of strength and valor.

Dear mother, God has divinely created you to be an anointed nurturer, showing forth His tender love and care as you nurture and nourish your children. But He has also created you to be a woman of strength and valor—strong in faith and purity, strong in embracing who God created your to be as a mother, strong in your convictions, strong in holding on to God’s truth in a deceived world, strong in warfare prayer, and strong to stand against the enemy and every demonic force that seeks to enter your home.

We are in a battle, dear mothers. The devil contends for our children as we seek to raise them to be set apart for God in this deceived world. But we will not give in. We fight in prayer against all deceptions and principalities and powers (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5). And let me tell you, it is a fight. We face challenges and obstacles and demonic forces on every front, but we will never give up the fight.

We are fighting a battle in our nation at the moment. We are fighting against a fraudulent election. We are fighting against the removal of our God-given and constitutional freedoms. But we will not be those who cowardly submit to tyranny. We will stand true to our freedoms which are given to us by God.

When Nehemiah and his team were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, they built with one hand and held a weapon in their other hand. This is how we build our families. We build with one hand and we fight in prayer on the other hand. Nehemiah encouraged the builders in Nehemiah 4:14 (NTL): “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”

Are you in the fight for your family?

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, please help me to be willing to get into the fight. Willing to pray. Thank you for giving me an armor to put on to fight against the enemy. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I will be strong to fight the enemy, not in my own strength, but in the power of the Lord.

Did you know, I am now doing a podcast for you each week called FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS w/ Nancy Campbell? I know you will be blessed and encouraged. Go to www.aboverubies.org and you’ll see the icon. Or go to http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com

GOD IS A MAN OF WAR
Part 1

“The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name”
(Exodus 15:6).

“Really?” I hear you say. “I thought God was a God of love and mercy.” Yes, He is totally. One hundred percent. But the Scriptures reveal that He is also a “man of war.” God shows such patience and lovingkindness as He waits for all to come to repentance, but there is a day coming when He will rise up, He will roar, He will bring all His enemies into subjection unto Him, and He will bring justice to the earth.

The Scriptures speak a lot about battles and warfare. I found 12 different Hebrew words that relate to God as a warrior, and which also relate to His people. Shall we look at them?

 1.     GIBBOR

The Hebrew word for war is gibbor and means “a warrior, champion, chief, a strong, valiant man.” In Moses’ song of victory over the Egyptians, Exodus 15:3 tells us that God arose as a “man of war” to accomplish this miraculous victory.

Jeremiah 32:18 describes God as “the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name.” The word “mighty” is also gibbor.

This word is also used to describe valiant men. God used this word when He chose David. Psalm 89:19 says: “I have laid help upon one that is mighty (gibbor): I have exalted one chosen out of the people I have found David my servant, with my holy oil have I anointed him.” Many translations say: “I raised a warrior.”

God didn’t look for someone who would say the right things to keep people happy. No. He looked for a man who was real, a man with heart after His heart. He looked for a fighter, a warrior! He looked for a man who was not afraid to go out to war and conquer his enemies.

2.     MILCHAMAH

This Hebrew word is a common word for war in the Bible and it is used 315 times. It is translated battle 151 times, war 158 times, and fight six times, apart from a few other words. It means “fighting, engagement in battle, warfare, a warrior.”

It is also used to describe God in Psalm 24:8: “Who is this king of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle (milchamah)?”

How did God deliver the Israelites from the mighty power of Egypt? Deuteronomy 4:34 tells us: “Hath God attempted to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war (milchamah), and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God di for you in Egypt before your eyes?”

Isaiah 42:13: “The LORD shall go forth s a mighty man (gibbor), he shall stir up jealously like a man of war (milchamah): he shall cry,  yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.”

Exodus 17:16 says: “The LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with

Amalek from generation to generation.”

Amalek represents evil and wickedness in the Bible. God fights against it in every generation. We must also fight with Him against all evil. Every generation must fight evil until the day comes when all evil is brought into subjection to Jesus Christ, who is King of kings and Lord of lords. Therefore, each new generation had to learn the art of war—how to fight in battle and how to conquer the enemy (Judges 3:1-3).

We as parents must know the art of war against the enemy and we must also teach our children.

God’s battles are our battles, and our battles are His battles!

The Bible tells us that David’s battles were the Lord’s battles (1 Samuel 18:17 and 25:28).

Another amazing thing we learn is that they had to go out to battle in the presence of the Lord. They didn’t go out on their own. They went out with God—in His presence. He ordered the battle. He went before them, and He helped them in their battles.

Numbers 32:20, 21, 29: “If ye will go armed before the LORD to war, and will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD . . . every man armed to battle, before the LORD . . .”

The phrase “before the LORD” literally  means “with God’s face upon you” or “in the LORD’S presence” as it is translated in God’s Word translation. God does not turn His eye away from war but is in the battle with us.

PRAYER:

“Thank  you, dear Father, that You are a “man of war.” You are Conqueror. I thank You that You don’t leave me in the lurch when I face my battles but You fight my battles with me. Lord God, I also want to help fight Your battles against sin and evil. Help me to never go AWOL but to always be ready to fight the “battles of the Lord.” Save me, Oh God, from ever siding with the enemy. Help me to always stand true to You and fight and against all evil and deception. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I belong to the kingdom  of God and therefore I am in a war against the kingdom of darkness. I cannot lay down my sword until Jesus comes!

Did you know, I am now doing a podcast for you each week called FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS w/ Nancy Campbell? I know you will be blessed and encouraged. Go to www.aboverubies.org and you’ll see the icon. Or go to http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com

A STRAIGHT PATH

“The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low:
and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.”
(Isaiah 40:3-5).

We read in Luke 3:3-6 that John the Baptist came as “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” to prepare the way of the Lord. Each one of the Gospel writers confirms this—Matthew 3:1-4; Mark 1:1-2; and John 1:23. The last verses of the Old Testament also prophesy it and Luke 1:16-17 and 76 fulfill the prophecy.

These Scriptures explain in more detail exactly what it means to prepare the way for the Lord: “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

To prepare the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, John had to make the way straight. He was anointed to “turn the hearts of the fathers (which includes the mothers too) to their children.” But the prophetic word of Malachi 4:5-6 says that it will happen again “before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.”

We are getting closer to this time. It is time to prepare. It is time to straighten the paths.

When the hearts of fathers and mothers are not turned to their children, they are on a crooked path. There are many deviant paths in this humanistic world. There are luring detours off the straight road. They may look enticing. They may even seem the right way, but they are often subtle “windings” to steer us away from God’s perfect plan.

Are you on a winding path? Sometimes you don’t even realize it until you get lost. You wake up to find that the devil’s tempting ways are not what they seem. Your family life is out of order and you wonder why. Perhaps, without realizing it, you have landed up on a winding path of independence from your husband. You are too busy to serve him and your family.

Perhaps you veered on to a crooked path of busyness—running here and there, attending this meeting and that, getting involved with this organization and that. You are in a whirlwind of activity. It seems great, but where is this winding path taking you? What is the end result?

It’s a long way off the path God planned for you as a mother—to be nestled in the heart of your home. And what are your children learning? That life consists of going to this and that, being involved in this sport and that organization, and rarely having time to sit around the dinner table together?

Are they learning the ways of the home? It is in the home they learn the patterns to pass on to the next generation. They have time to create, think great thoughts, and bask in the joy of home and family life.

Our children will generally follow the path we take. We dare not take them down winding paths of deception. The decisions we make and the paths we choose will determine the course of not only our children, but generations to come.

Keep alert for these crooked roads and remember that we only prove the salvation and deliverance of the Lord on the straight path. It is only on the straight path that His glory is revealed.

He wants to show His power in your life—to bridge the lonely valleys with His love and compassion; to level every mountain that looks impossible in the natural but can melt away in the power and presence of His Spirit, and to cut a straight path of truth through all the windings that crisscross over and back through God’s straight road. Will you let Him lead you?

I love the Way’s translation of 2 Timothy 2:15: “Be earnest . . .  a laborer who needs not to blush for his work, but who drives the ploughshare of truth in a straight furrow.”

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Father, I ask You to help me to keep on Your straight path, never turning to the right or the left. Please expose every winding path that beckons me away from Your truth.” Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I will plough a straight furrow in my life and the life of my family.

Did you know, I am now doing a podcast for you each week called FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS w/ Nancy Campbell? I know you will be blessed and encouraged. Go to www.aboverubies.org and you’ll see the icon. Or go to http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com