A Mighty Fortress

# 165 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 13:5 Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth Aven. (1 Sam 13:5) Kind of a fearful situation isn't it? And rightly so. Look at the ridiculous numbers used to describe the might of the enemy. 30,000 chariots? 6,000 horsemen? Soldiers numbered with the sand by the sea? Are you kidding me? There is no chance here for the Israelites, king or no king. These numbers were used for effect on the Israelites and for effect for you and I. Our enemy and his legions of demons are strong. We are no match for them in our own flesh. Luther captured this truth so well in the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” Listen again to his words: A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing For still our ancient foe, doth seek to work us woe his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal. Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God's own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he; Lord Sabaoth, his name, from age to age the same, and he must win the battle. And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us. The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him. That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth; the Spirit and the gifts are ours, thru him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill; God's truth abideth still; his kingdom is forever. I really can't state it any better than that. May these words be a source of encouragement for you today Because, we have no chance of victory in our flesh, but with Jesus on our side, we cannot lose. Look to Him in all your encounters with the enemy today, remembering that: 1Jo 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. (1 Jn 4:4)