A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (April 18, 2016)
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 54:7)
The “Iron Dome” is a modern day air defense system developed and deployed in Israel to defend against incoming missiles from terrorists. This system uses rockets to intercept and destroy incoming rockets launched by the enemies of Israel.
God’s protection package for the believer is very similar in many ways to the “Iron Dome” system. It is deployed as a “shield of faith” to repel and destroy the incoming fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16) of our enemy. Let’s look at what the Word says:
So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 50:19)
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. (Psalm 91:4-6)
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:9-12)
And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. (Job 1:8-10)
You can see by these few examples of scripture (and there are many more) that God’s plan is to provide an “Iron Dome” defense system or hedge of protection for His believers. Notice, the enemy never stops trying to penetrate that system. In the case of Job, God granted unusual access to Satan. Some theologians and denominations have made a very dangerous doctrine of believing that God approves all the attacks of the enemy. I personally think that is a very dangerous doctrine that does not line up with God’s Word, His heart or His plans. I think that the Job incident was a one-time picture that God gave us to show us what happens when His protective covering is removed. What happens is that we are left exposed to the enemy.
Now, there is a flip side to this coin. We can deactivate God’s protective system and that applies to us personally and to our nation as a whole:
And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 8:1-20)
One of the foreign policy political arguments that you often here in this season is about the lack of leadership. The argument is that when the United States does not lead in world affairs the enemy rushes in. I would suggest these arguments are only half right. When the United States does not submit to God, and does not lead with His protective covering, the enemy will always rush in and take advantage of the situation.
God wants to protect you and I personally and protect our country, but we have to agree! We can’t have it both ways. We cannot kick God out of our life and government and expect God’s protection package to remain active. It just does not work that way.
It’s our decision to make! But as for me and my house, we choose to serve the Lord!
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me; Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me. (Psalm 138:7)
