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The Central Theme of the Pentateuch

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The Central Theme of the Pentateuch

My readings of the Pentateuch have given me a deeper insight and understanding of its overall significance to the canon of Scripture. In this article, I will share my thoughts about the following:

  1. What I believe to be the central motif of the Pentateuch,
  2. How the balance of the motif was carried out in the Old Testament,
  3. How the motif was fulfilled in the New Testament and
  4. How the motif is germane to the modern church.

I believe the central motif of Pentateuch was the work of redemption. While Adam and Eve resided in the earthly sanctuary called the Garden of Eden, YHWH would commune with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day (Gen. 3:8). Then Eve was deceived and Adam disobeyed. As a result, sin entered humanity. Their sin caused separation from YHWH’s presence. In order to restore the relationship, blood was needed to cover their sin.

The first picture of redemption was when YHWH provided skins for Adam and Eve to be covered (Gen. 3:21).

“The coats of skins in v. 21 are pictures of the salvation we have in Christ. There must be the shedding of blood, the offering of innocent life for the guilty. Adam and Eve had tried to cover their sin and shame with leaves (3:7), but these good works were not accepted by God. Nor does He accept such works today!” (Wiersbe, 1993)

I believe the work of redemption can be seen throughout the rest of the Pentateuch.

The book of Exodus 12:1-14 describes the work of redemption through feast of Passover.

In the book of Leviticus 1:1-17, the burnt offering represents the shedding of blood as an atonement, thus redeeming the relationship breached by sin.

“The incident in the wilderness, with Moses lifting up the brazen serpent, foreshadows the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross. In Numbers 21:4-9 we see that God had sent fiery serpents into the camp of Israel as a judgment. The bite of these serpents was deadly. But when the people cried, ‘We have sinned,’ God provided a remedy.” (Gaebelein)

The book of Deuteronomy, chapter 28 focuses on blessings and curses for the children of Israel. The Deuteronomistic motif was a precursor pointing to the coming of the Mashiach. Jesus Christ’s redemption would be the fulfillment of salvation delivering humanity from the curse of sin.

Throughout the remainder of the Tanakh, the motif of redemption is pervasive. In the writings of the Tanakh, God appeals to the children of Israel through the leadership of Joshua, the Judges and Samuel.

YHWH uses the monarchial period—Saul, David and Solomon—to do a spiritual reset of redemption.

YHWH uses the prophets during the pre-exilic, exilic and post-exilic to ransom his people back to himself through series of sermonic messages and divine judgments.

This motif of redemption can also be seen throughout the periscope of the New Testament. I believe the work of redemption is vital to our understanding the salvific work of Christ.

“Children of obedience should also be strangers to their former empty way of life (cf. v. 14) handed down from their forebears, since they have been redeemed (elytr?th?te, from lytro?, “to pay a ransom”) with the precious (cf. 2:4, 6–7) blood of Christ (cf. 1:2). That redemption is a purchasing from the marketplace of sin, a ransom not paid by silver or gold, which perish (cf. v. 7), but with the priceless blood of a perfect Lamb. Similar to the sacrificial lambs which were to be without… defect, Christ was sinless, uniquely qualified as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29; cf. Heb. 9:14).” (Walvoord, 2018)

I believe the modern church has experienced the favor of God when the redemptive work of the cross is the sine qua non of ministry. My observation of the modern church is the salvific work of Christ’s redemption isn’t being taught enough. Some of our churches don’t understand the importance of redemption. I believe the metanarrative of the Bible commences with Genesis and culminates with Revelation about the message of redemption. The following mindset about the modern church impedes people’s understanding about Christ work of redemption.

“People criticize the church today as being consumeristic. And to some extent, churches cater to consumerism—often to our detriment. I agree that consumerism is a problem for Christianity.” (Langston, 2018)

Robert Caruth Jr, a native of Peoria, accepted Christ at the age of 14. He had a penchant for learning the word of God early on in his Christian journey. This proved to be the capstone solidifying his walk with the Lord. Pastor Caruth has been married to Melanie Caruth for 35 years. This conjugal union has produced their only child Fallon who is a miracle from the Lord. Pastor Caruth earned a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. He is currently finishing up his Masters Degree at Moody Theological Seminary. He serves as the teaching pastor and visionary leader of The Church of Living God Community Church in Richmond Heights, Missouri.

REFERENCES

Gaebelein, Arno. The Brazen Serpent. Moments with the Book. Adapted from The Gospel of John: An Exposition. Retrieved from https://mwtb.org/blogs/moments-for-you/27427329-the-brazen-serpent.

Langston, James. Times and Seasons. Lulu. 2018.

Walvoord, John. Zuck, Roy. The Bible Knowledge Commentary Epistles and Prophecy. David C Cook. 2018.

Wiersbe, Warren. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament. David C Cook. 1993. p.27.

Resisting Temptation: What to Do When the Wrong Thought Comes to Your Mind

Guest Contributor
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Resisting Temptation: What to Do When the Wrong Thought Comes to Your Mind

Temptation is a Greek word “peirasmos” which means a pressure applied to your thinking designed to create wrong emotions which will eventually lead to wrong actions.

Being born-again will never stop you from being tempted, but remember: The Bible teaches us that anytime we are tested, God has already opened an escape route for us (1 Cor 1:13).

When the wrong thought comes to your mind, you must:

1. Remember you are a new creation

God always wants us to remember that we are new creation and He has given us a new life. It can be likened to the renewing of one’s mind. This thought comes to you as an outside force, a form of temptation from the devil. You are not the one that produces them in your mind, especially now that you’re born again.[1] The Bible says we (born-again believers) have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16). You remember who you are now: a new creation! This new life is what you must believe in.

2. Walk in obedience

You see, being born-again does not mean that wrong thoughts will not come to your mind but the point is you should not allow them to take hold of you. You refuse them. “Resist the devil and they will flee from you” (James 4:7). Someone rightly said, “You can’t stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop them from building a nest on your head.”

Let us now assume the thought of bad habits comes to you. The pressure is so much on you to perform that wrong thing; you might even go as far as the beginning stages of the wrong deed. But right there, when you remember that you are born-again, a new person, you suddenly have the courage and boldness to shrug it off.

You may not be able to stop these thoughts from coming to you because they are made up of outside forces,[1] but you can stop them from lodging or staying in your mind. Don’t let these thoughts take dominion over you, or govern your soul, because it will hinder your body from receiving from the Spirit. You can rightly stop them by following this verse:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are right, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever are holy, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phil 4:8)

Never let these bad thoughts fill your soul. You should know that any thought apart from those listed above are of the devil. You should resist them.

Before you were reconciled unto God, remember that you were living a life which was outside the purpose of God, and it pleased Satan. Now that you are in the Righteousness of God, look at how the devil will strive hard to get you back. Now that you are born again, you are living a new life, so the other life you were living before will try to come back to you. When it comes, you must confess that, “I am born-again.” That’s why the Bible says, “Hold fast your confession.” No matter the habit, you will remember this! Stop! I am born again! Stop right there!

Don’t let the cycle of these thoughts go on. Don’t be ashamed to tell anyone involved in this with you, “Oh, I’m sorry. I can’t do this because I am born-again.” Get rid of bad habits and replace them with good ones. Do this deliberately. Seek out godly character traits from the Word of God and train yourself to act in them.

3. Be a doer; always act the Word!

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any man hears the word, and is not acting on that word, he is like unto a man looking at his natural face in a glass, For he looked at himself, and go on his way, and straightway he has forgotten what manner of man he was. (Jam 1:22-24)

God does not want us to be hearers of the Word only, but doers, walking according to the Word of God. God wants us to remember His word. And we will. That’s one of the things the Holy Spirit does in us. Jesus has said it already that, “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you and everything you have read about me.” (Jhn 14:26)

Thank God, the Holy Spirit is right here; He helps us remember the Word. By the time you remember, you must act on it. Don’t be troubled or anxious about what to remember; the Holy Spirit will remind you. But you must be ready to obey Him when He brings the truths to your mind.

Note: Whatsoever you read, that’s what Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance, so you have to know, read and understand the Word of God.

4. Remember: Sin has no dominion over you

Once you are born again, sin and curses have no dominion over you. If you read my last post on the forgiveness of sin, you know that you are no more a sinner. God has delivered you from the power of sin and darkness and has delivered you into His Kingdom.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us to be partakers of His properties, His inheritance, of the saints in light, Who hath delivered us, save us, take over, from the power of darkness, and hath translated, brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. (Col 1:12-13)

You must remember one thing; wrong thoughts no longer have power to gain mastery over you, unless you allow for them.

“For sin will never, never have dominion or power over you or take over your life…” (Rom 6:14) Sin will not have lordship over you. It will not govern your life because you are not under the law again, but you are under the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s what the Bible says about you.

You are in the Kingdom of His dear Son, now that you are born again, and that’s why the power of darkness will never have dominion over you.

Only in Christ Jesus do we have the redemption of sin. Anything outside Him is fake and from the power of darkness. It is not that we are trying to have it; we have it! We must regain this consciousness of the Word of God and rejoice in it.

An evangelist, working as the CEO of Livelihood, the author likes telling people about the Word of God, wishing to teach and set people free bondage of doctrines and bringing them into the light. Livelihood.com.ng is a Nigerian blog entrusted to bring all events happening and facts to your ears including poetry updates and inspirational stories.

[1] Editor’s note: The enemy gets too much credit here. While it’s true not all thoughts you experience are yours—some may be from the Holy Spirit and some may be from the enemy—it’s incorrect to attribute all sinful thinking to the enemy. Through the born-again experience, the spirit is indeed made new in Christ, however the soulish nature (mind, will and emotions) often undergoes a slower sanctification process. This tension between spirit and flesh is what Paul refers to in Romans 7, which is victoriously encased between chapters 6 and 8.

In spite of this simple doctrinal difference, this contributed article was approved because its core message is to take captive every thought and to stay rooted in Kingdom identity when faced with temptation.

Yes, God Really Does Want Deeper Intimacy With You

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Yes, God Really Does Want Deeper Intimacy With You

Have you ever felt like God has a secret club, and you’re not in it?

Hey, it’s okay if you raise your hand. I’m raising mine.

I have a distinct memory of Wednesday night youth group worship in high school. I remember looking around at everyone else lifting their hands up and singing at the top of their lungs (you know…the ole raise-and-praise), and wondering, “Why don’t I feel that way?”

Everyone else seemed to be connecting to God in some deep and meaningful way while we all sang “Heart of Worship” in a dimly-lit youth room, while I just stood there. Meanwhile, I felt like I had to manufacture intimacy with God.

I would raise my hands at a key-change or a chorus-repeat, like I was having some big spiritual moment. I wasn’t. I didn’t feel God’s nearness, I just didn’t want to feel left out. But I ended up feeling like a fraud.

I thought, “Maybe I don’t feel that way because God doesn’t want to connect with me. Maybe I’m not really part of the plan.”

Have you ever thought that? I’ve talked to so many friends who definitely have. It seems like, at some point or another, we’ve all doubted whether God really wants to be intimate with us. It feels like everyone else is better friends with God than we are.

Because I was faking my worship enthusiasm, I got it in my head that I was some kind of second-string Christian. I started to believe God saw me as a back-up plan: available to step in if needed, but certainly not a first choice.

I walked all the way through my teenage years believing that. Maybe you’ve had a season like that, too. A season where you hear a constant symphony of things like:

“I’m on the fringe.”

“I’m sure God cares about me, but He cares about other people a lot more.”

“Do I matter to God?”

My worst fears were validated the night I didn’t get asked to join a ministry staff I was dying to be on. The really terrible part? My dad was already on staff and I still didn’t get picked. I felt embarrassed in front of my friends, insufficient, worthless. It punched me in the gut.

In tears, I asked God, “Why is it that all I want to do is be useful to you, to serve you, to have a deep relationship with you, but you don’t want me? Am I not good enough?”

I longed to be in ministry. I longed to feel close to God, and to feel that I was fulfilling my Big Purpose. And I felt like God didn’t care.

Sitting with your longing and hurt is painful and no fun at all. It stinks. But I learned something as I sat in my brokenness. That my longing is a valuable part of the human experience and, more importantly, a valuable part of my relationship with God.

Friend, God made you to long for things. He designed you to be dissatisfied. It sounds weird, I know. But hear me out.

Have you noticed that you only move when you’re dissatisfied? Content people tend to be pretty complacent. Discontent people are the ones who get up early in the morning, who push themselves, who go after something more.

When we’re uncomfortable, or bored, or frustrated, or unsatisfied, we start hunting for things that will quench our longing.

That’s why God has placed an eternal longing deep inside each of us. It’s a longing that is meant to lead us toward him, to pull us into a richer relationship with him.

God deeply wants you to seek him. He loves you so dearly, and so desires to have an intimate, unique relationship with you, that he fills you with a longing that only he can satisfy so that you will have to run to him.

I know because my deepest longing caused me to do exactly that.

C.S. Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity, says something that I love: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

My painful longing for purpose through ministry was actually a slightly misappropriated desire for more of God. And when I learned how to let God fill up my soul, everything else began to fall into place.

Over the next couple of years after I didn’t get that job, God began to show me who I was in Him, and how all those longings He put in my heart were guideposts to draw me back to Him. Which, curiously, also led me to the exact job (and ministry) I feel I was made to do.

Every longing, frustration, and deep desire you have is a little breadcrumb that God uses to lead you to Him.

All of our breadcrumbs look different. My breadcrumbs looked like a desire to be in ministry, an introverted personality I resented, and a deep love of fantasy stories (go figure). I followed these longings toward God, and realized He was the perfect version of all of them.

What are your breadcrumbs? What desires are nestled deep in your heart? What feels not-quite-settled in your soul?

When you follow the trail of your dissatisfaction and longing, you’ll end up at the feet of the very Creator of that longing. And He’ll lean in and say, “Welcome, dear friend. I’m going to fill you to the brim with my fullness, because I love you.”

The prophet Jeremiah recorded these words of God, when the Israelite were stuck in Babylon: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.”

Listen to the shouting of your longings. In the middle of the noise, there is also a whisper: “I put this here to draw you to myself. Come find fullness in intimacy with me.”

You’re invited to the club.

God wants you in his inner circle.

Run to your Savior, friend. When you do, you’ll find that he is very near, calling you gently to him.

In my experience, God likes to whisper more than he likes to shout. And there’s something beautiful that happens when we commit to listening for His voice, even when all we hear is silence: Eventually, we hear him. Even if it’s a faint whisper.

Don’t let silence discourage you. Keep coming back. Because one thing I know for sure is that the God of the universe desperately wants to be in deep, rich, intimate communion with you.

He always has.

Tim Branch is a Christian blogger, former youth pastor, and Chick-fil-A aficionado. He writes at timbranch.com, a blog about how to understand yourself, find your purpose, and grow into who you were uniquely created to be.

Ecumenical Relativism: Pope Francis Says All Major Religions Lead to God

Matthew Schoenherr
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Ecumenical Relativism: Pope Francis Says All Major Religions Lead to God

The Facebook post reads, “Pope Francis Says All Major Religions Are Paths To Same God” and shows Pope Francis posing for a picture with other interfaith leaders. The accompanying comment: “Many names. Same Source.”

This article refers to the video produced by the Pope World Prayer Network, first seen back in January 2016; over four years ago at the time I’m writing this. Though it’s terribly wrong, folks easily swallow it because it laces in love and unity as its underlying message.

On this particular feed, the post received over 30 ‘likes’ and ‘hearts’ and was shared 18 times. While one person quipped, “To whom does he want the tithing sent, though…” (which I found quite funny), another was wowed by the news.

I piped up:

[Matthew] lol.. People should actually read the article. It’s actually written by an outlet that believes the words of Jesus and His exclusive claim (made in John 14) over the words of this pope. Overlapping moral codes do nothing to address competing truth claims. Jesus is either Lord, a liar or a lunatic; He didn’t leave room for anything else. Therefore, He is either the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one will come to the Father but through Him, or there are many ways back to God and Jesus’ life, death and resurrection were completely unnecessary.

When I came back a couple days later, I was surprised to see someone had volleyed. Well, they kinda volleyed. As in, they wanted to engage but only long enough to inject some relativism, and then they wanted to end the conversation:

[Dave] No one comes to the Father except through Him: If “I and the Father are One”, than this is obviously true. What I don’t have the authority to pronounce (yes, I know the Scriptures) is what exactly “through me” means. Maybe every Iman, Shaman, Yogi, etc., who acts out of (“God is) love” will, upon their death, no longer “see through a mirror darkly, but now face to face”.

Just FYI: I will not be responding to any messages that you post. My heart is not into theology at this crucial point in time.

That’s fine if he wants to drop his wisdom and then disengage, but I think some of the error he’s leaning on is spiritually dangerous for folks, and since the stakes for being wrong about Jesus are high, I felt I should point out a few things. So far, Dave has been true to his word; he has not written back to my following response.

[Matthew] Dave, thank you for writing. Respectfully, the Pharisees knew Scripture and they still nailed their Messiah to a Roman cross. We can know a lot about Jesus without actually knowing Him personally. Jesus said it’s the truth that sets us free, so I believe accuracy in spiritual truth is vital, ESPECIALLY now in this “crucial point in time.” A person who says, “Your belief in gravity may be true for you but it’s not true for me,” will still plummet to destruction when they walk off a cliff, so maybe we can agree that truth matters. The examples you gave–Islam, paganism and Hinduism–all believe vastly different things. Islam says Jesus never died, which completely disagrees with the entire Bible and one of Jesus’ primary missions on the earth; the perfect atonement for sin. (He is the spotless Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, per 1 Peter 1.) And paganism? How did God judge pagan nations in the Old Testament? How did Israel’s syncretism work out for them? Finally, Hinduism is pantheism; creator and creation are one and the same. Idol-worship is rampant here. This isn’t what Jesus taught at all.

Fortunately, the pope is not our example to follow; Jesus is. Therefore, I would petition anyone within earshot of my voice to abandon ecumenical relativism and step into a living, vital relationship with Jesus Christ.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

next steps to becoming christian

Here is a longer conversation regarding the exclusive claim of Jesus Christ.

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Christian Self-Defense, Kingdom-Style

Matthew Schoenherr
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Christian Self-Defense, Kingdom-Style

Respectfully, I think I’m noticing an underlying trend over the past few years since I first wrote this article on Christian martial arts. Let’s take a moment to look at the most-used defense for Christian violence. I’ll call it the “Loved Ones Defense”.

The Loved Ones Defense of Martial Arts

In the Loved Ones Defense, the Christian martial arts enthusiast has to look past Jesus’ numerous examples of non-violence. Had Jesus throat-punched a single raging Pharisee or pummeled a demon-possessed Jew into holy submission, we might absolutely have a case for Christian martial arts.

But if the imagery of Jesus as a mixed-martial artist seems ridiculous, it should tell us something. And, if it’s ridiculous when we place the image upon Jesus, it should be equally ridiculous when we put it upon ourselves; we are made to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29, For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.) We are not to be conformed to the image of this world (Romans 12:2, And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.)

Here, martial arts defenders may quickly pivot to use the “But That Was Jesus Block”, but this simply reveals they are not settled on Jesus’ humanity and what it means for us if He walked fully human. Hint: Jesus was tempted at every point (Hebrews 4:15), yet we also know God can’t be tempted (James 1:13); Jesus walked as a man, fully human and fully divine, yet did not count equality with God something to be held (Philippians 2:5-11). More, in Matthew 16:24-26, Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, pick up our crosses and follow Him. He wouldn’t have said, “Follow me,” if it wasn’t possible. He had to be fully human for us to stand a chance at following Him.

Back to the Loved Ones Defense. Ask yourself a few simple questions. In John 8, when the mob brought the adulterous woman before Jesus, they were ready to stone her, right? Did Jesus love the woman? Of course He loved her; just as He loved the murderous mob. How did He diffuse the situation and defend this lost child of God? Did He rely on His reflexes? Eye-gouges? Headbutts? Arm-bars?

No. He used the wisdom of God.

We are called to follow in His footsteps.

We are not to use martial arts for self-defense; God alone is to be our defender (Psalm 62:5-7, My soul waits only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.)

We are not to use martial arts to build self-confidence. Our confidence is to be rooted on the rock of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:7).

In fact, Jesus calls us to deny the self. The only self we really get to Biblically employ is self-control. It was self that ushered in the Fall. We were never made for ourselves and we’ve been bought with a very high price: the blood of Jesus Christ.

The Believer’s Matrix

When we find ourselves fighting to hold onto things that aren’t of Him, it seems timely to stop and identify where we’re at in our Christian journey. I think we can sort ourselves into one of four spiritual locations. These are:

Unbelieving Unbelievers: These haven’t accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. These people draw their identity from the creation as opposed to the Creator. Though they tend to be wise in their own eyes, blindness reigns here. Toward the Gospel, they may be ambivalent, completely hostile or friendly and tolerant.

Believing Unbelievers: They may say they have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior but even the casual observer can see He is not Lord over their lives. Believing Unbelievers may even go to church religiously, but they stumble and trip through life just as carnally as Unbelieving Unbelievers.

Unbelieving Believers: They have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior. They may be “baby Christians” or long-time Christians who never matured. They may know very little of the Word or they may have memorized the entire Bible, yet the heart-based reality of many of the Bible’s promises and claims eludes them.

Believing Believers: Folks who are growing in relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior, who are growing in the Word, and who are pressing into actually believing what it says. Jesus says these folks will be in the minority.

If we mapped these four categories out, it might look something like this:

believers matrix

Obviously, we know this grid is not proportionally accurate, as Unbelieving Unbelievers would be the largest quadrant. The Believing Believer’s quadrant would be the smallest (Matthew 7:13-14), and even those folks are works in progress like everyone else on the grid.

What is the core problem behind Christians defending martial arts? We simply do not believe the Word of God.

Yeah, that’s it. We either

  1. don’t believe the Bible is truly God’s Word, or
  2. we don’t know of God’s promises for protection, or
  3. we don’t believe them (even though God can’t lie; there is no darkness in Him.)

So which is it for you?

Regarding the matrix itself, hopefully–as you reread the definitions for the four positions–you have a sense for where you might fall on this grid. Even if you’re humble enough to admit you’re not resting in the Believing Believer’s quadrant, you are still called to it; we all are. Your current position in no way dictates your final position.

Want to shift your position on this grid? Pray it out. The Holy Spirit would love to help you get armed properly.

Psalm 91: Kingdom-Style Self-Defense

But maybe by now you’re struggling with what God-given defense looks like if it doesn’t look like physically beating the snot out of the other guy (who is also an image-bearer of God, albeit a deceived one.) I would like to offer you Psalm 91, God’s covenant of protection for the Bible-Believing Believer. Let’s walk through it briefly, with the KJV’s thee’s and thou’s removed for readability.

He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

Stop. In whom do we trust? Who is my refuge? Who is my fortress? Where must we be dwelling to experience His covering? We could stop right here, but wait.. there’s more..

Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you shall trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Uh-oh. “Surely”? He will deliver us from snares and sickness? His truth shall be our shield? These are promises. Do we believe them?

You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Yeah, the “bad guys breaking into your house at night” is a favorite scenario people use to cling to their weapons of personal destruction and their martial arts. Let’s keep reading…

A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked.

God’s protection is no joke. I wonder how we can obtain covering like this?

Because you have made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation; There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

Oh. That’s how.

For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon you shall trample under foot.

Angelic, heavenly protection sent by the Father Himself. What seeks to destroy us will find itself trampled.

And here comes God’s response to us. This is His promise; His half of the covenant:

Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

Do You Believe the Word of God?

Are you a Believing Believer? Are you pressing into actually believing the Bible is the Word of God and—if you believe it’s the Word of God, and I mean really believe it in your heart—are you believing God’s promises? There are a whole lot of godly, church-going, Jesus-loving Christians who stop short of believing the Bible in its entirety. Yet, if we believe, our lives should reflect it.

God promises to cover us, even in trouble, if we’ll abide in Him. It’s not a transaction, as much as an invitation to return to our original position in the garden. We were made for communion and we have awesome protection from that place.

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Spiritual Warfare Prayers and Scriptures

Matthew Schoenherr
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Spiritual Warfare Prayers and Scriptures

Sometimes, we believers forget we’re embroiled in a spiritual battle waging in an invisible realm all around us. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge,” is a Hosea 4:6 reality. Unfortunately, we seldom think to connect our natural trials to supernatural causes, so we rarely fight back with the supernatural power and authority we’ve been given. Is every trial a gift sent from the enemy? No. We know the storm comes to both the foolish and the wise. (Matthew 7:24-27) And then there’s sowing and reaping. (Galatians 6:7-9)

Still, if we’re actually living like salt and light in this fallen world, we should eventually end up on hell’s radar, right? If we’re not experiencing the occasional spiritual attack, we may not be pursuing God’s Kingdom as much as we thought!

God’s Word is the Living Truth given to our darkened world. Through it, we know the power of life and death is in the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21) When we lift God’s Word in bold, fervent prayer, standing faithfully on His promises–even in the face of what our natural eyes see, the natural wisdom of others or our gloomy temporary circumstances–we effectively wield “the sword of the Spirit.” (Ephesians 6:17) Just as Simon Peter began to sink into the stormy sea when he took his eyes off our Lord (Matthew 14:22-33), we also become fearful and overwhelmed when our eyes are more focused upon our troubles than on Jesus. He alone is our Rock; placing our trust upon anyone else (including ourselves) is a foundation built on sand. (1 Timothy 2:5)

Though these Scripture-based spiritual warfare prayers are written in a first-person perspective, you can easily tailor them to apply to whomever or whatever you’re covering. Extend these prayers over yourself, your loved ones, marriages, ministries, health, emotions, finances, home; wherever you’re experiencing hardship, trial, persecution or spiritual oppression.

As the Word teaches, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and for bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) It is not by might nor by power, but by His Spirit, that we overcome. (Zechariah 4:6)

In the words of our King, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Father, Your Word says that no temptation has overtaken me except what is common to mankind. God, You are faithful; You will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. I know when I am tempted, I have only to turn to You and You will provide a way out that I may endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13) I submit myself to You, Father, and as I do, I resist the devil and he must flee from me. (James 4:7) I am self-controlled and alert. I resist evil and stand firm in the faith. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Father, you are faithful! You strengthen me and protect me from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3) You cause my enemies to be defeated before me. They may come out against me one way but they will flee before me seven ways. (Deuteronomy 28:7) No weapon formed against me will prosper; and every tongue that accuses me in judgment I will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and our vindication is from You, Father. (Isaiah 54:17)

God, in You I am strong and courageous! I will not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord my God is with me wherever I go. (Joshua 1:9) I conquer the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of my testimony, and I will not love my own life even unto death. (Revelation 12:11) Lord, I will wait upon you. You renew my strength; You lift me above the fray; I will run and not grow weary; I will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) I will not be overcome with evil, but I will overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21) I am from God and will absolutely overcome because greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Jesus, I must know Your truth, because it’s through Your truth that I am set free. (John 8:32) I thank you You’re establishing Your truth in me, day by day and moment by moment, and as You’re building me up in Your truth, no longer am I a slave to sin. No longer do I fear. Who the Son sets free is free indeed! (John 8:34-36)

Jesus, You have given me authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over ALL the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt me. (Luke 10:19) You taught that it’s the thief that comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus, You came that I may have life and life abundant. (John 10:10)

Jesus, you said whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. You taught if two on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by our Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:18-19) Your earthly mission was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and You have given me the authority to do the same. (Matthew 28:16-20)

God, You say in Your covenant of protection for us, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16) I thank you for complete deliverance, in the name of Jesus Christ.

God, if You are for me, who can be against me? (Romans 8:31) In all these things, I am more than a conqueror through He who loves me. (Romans 8:37) Thank you, Father, for giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Amen!

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