December 14, 2018 Brethren Letter
Dear Brethren,
A few years ago, I read a short letter on the internet written by a person named “Susan.” Her brief letter spurred a spiritual comparison in my mind with our being “soldiers” of Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:3-4).
The spiritual battles we face can seem quite overwhelming. Nevertheless, the reality is, God is there to help even when it seems like our “darkest of moments.”
Here is what Susan wrote…
“My uncle, age 79 was buried yesterday … saw combat in WWII, Korea, and Viet Nam. The following quote was used in his service. I would like to know where it was first used.
‘SURROUNDED by the enemy! … LOW on ammunition!
But, will hold position!
SITUATION: GOOD!’”
Now, that’s a very positive outlook! A person answered Susan’s question about where that quote came from. I gave a sermon on this subject a few years ago. Spiritually, our frame of mind should be even more positive when we’re putting all our trust in God!
Here are some excerpts from the Tomorrow’s World magazine (May 1971), with selected paragraphs taken from the “Personal,” as written by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. In this article, Mr. Armstrong addresses a topic that all of us should meditate upon. His article is entitled, “Let God Fight Your Battles.”
Personal from the Editor (Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong):
Let God Fight Your Battles
“THE WORLD you live in today is a very troubled world. You not only have your own personal problems, but you also suffer from the opposition and antagonism of the world around you.
It is time you considered how to conquer these troubles — how to be free from them — how to let GOD fight your battles instead! …
Conditions are what we make them! …
What the world doesn’t know is that God will not cause its present ways of wrong living to bring any HUMAN Utopia. Rather, God Almighty will soon have to step in and RULE over the world — bringing it into the ways of His just laws, which alone can produce this happy tomorrow!
We, too, have lessons to learn. Even though stubborn and rebellious mankind brings upon the world even darker days in the immediate future, remember — it’s darkest just before dawn. Take hope in the sure knowledge that the new world of God’s making — and ruling — is very near today!
But in the meantime, what about YOU, and your own private life and problems? Let us consider some of your own private, personal troubles. I know that you have them! And I want to tell you something — I want to tell you good news. You are carrying a lot of worries, fears, and troubles THAT YOU DON’T NEED TO CARRY!
Life is simply filled with private, personal battles. We have to battle fears and worries. Sometimes it seems we have to battle PEOPLE who APPEAR to be enemies, and whether you realize it or not, YOU also have to battle YOURSELF! …
Do you realize the Jesus Christ, the living resurrected Christ, to whom is given ALL POWER, has a present mission to perform? Do realize that His present mission is to FIGHT YOUR BATTLES FOR YOU — to deliver you — to free you from all your fears, your troubles, and even the circumstances that beset you?
Now think this over carefully, and answer this! Why do you fight your own battles, when He — the living Savior — is living in all power to fight them for you? …
If some of you try to solve your problems, or overcome your bad habits, or resist sin in nothing more than your OWN power and strength, you, too, will find yourself outnumbered, overpowered, and doomed to defeat! You
must learn, as this ancient king did, that God stands ready and willing to fight your battles for you…
Read his experience in II Chron. 32:1-22, from the Moffatt translation: “It was after this, after all this loyal service, that Sancherib king of Assyria invaded Judah, besieging the fortified towns and meaning to seize them. When Hezekiah saw that Sancherib had come determined to attack Jerusalem, he and his nobles and his chiefs agreed to stop the water of the fountains outside the town … “Then, appointing officers over the citizens, he gathered them in the open space at the gate of the city, and encouraged them. ‘Be firm,’ he said, ‘be brave, be not daunted nor dismayed for the king of Assyria or for all his host; we have with us One greater than all he has; he has a mortal force, but we have with us the Eternal our God, TO HELP AS AND TO FIGHT OUR BATTLES.'” …
Now notice what the king of Judah did. “King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz PRAYED over this and cried to heaven.” They prayed for help. They did not know HOW God would intervene. But they knew God would act! Here’s what happened: “Then the Eternal sent an angel who swept off all the gallant fighters, the leaders, and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria, till he had to go home in disgrace. He (later) went into the temple of his god, and there his own offspring murdered him with their swords. So the Eternal rescued Hezekiah and the citizens of Jerusalem from Sancherib the king of Assyria as well as from all other foes, PROTECTING THEM ON EVERY SIDE.” …
The point I want you to remember is that your battles are not really yours, but God’s. If you look to Him, He makes them His battles, and He fights them for you.”
Brethren, if you have an opportunity to read the entire “Personal”, it is an excellent article (and an inspiring one) to read!
Have a wonderful Sabbath!
Your Brother in Christ,
Gary Liebold