Undefeated

No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.
Joshua 1:5 NLT

We read this scripture, that is spoken to Joshua at the death of Moses — and while we don’t want to read the Word of God proudly (putting ourselves into the “starring role” of every passage) instead of being humbly in awe of how the Lord has revealed himself in times gone past — we do need to understand that since the Lord does not show preference and loves all of His children, we can hope, even trust, in this same commitment from our God in our lives.

Do we believe that no one will be able to stand against us all the days that we live? Shouldn’t that be a sobering thought? If they can’t stand against us, then isn’t our responsibility to bear that authority properly vitally inportant? At least, it should matter to us if we care about them and don’t want to see them crushed by their coming against us.

I wonder how many times we have foolishly been fine with the idea of someone who comes against us being crushed, being “paid back” for what they have brought against us? But wouldn’t that only be true of us if we thought the was a risk of their “attacking us” be successful?

What if we truly believed God’s promises and had a perspective like this instead:

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
Genesis 50:20 NLT

Wouldn’t that position of victory and authority being us into a totally different perspective about those who come against us? If we believe, if we know, “They are bound to fail” — and our focus is no longer on having to beat them (because we trust that their defeat is already written in God’s promises) — shouldn’t we hope for the opportunity to reconcile with them, to help them come into agreement — rather than look forward to their destruction?

Do we understand a Godly perspective towards enemies?

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord , I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?
Ezekiel 33:11 NLT

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Romans 5:6‭-‬11 NLT

We see that the Lord doesn’t long for the destruction of His enemies — He loves that they will turn and be friends — and He takes the initiative to show them forgiveness, love, and compassion first so that they might choose it instead of opposition. And if we are new creations, called by His name, made in His image, and casting the Holy Spirit of Christ in us, shouldn’t we be seeking to do the same towards those foolish enemies who do do not yet understand that they cannot stand against us because God is with us?

The question then becomes, do we actually believe, have we actually received, are we truly His?!!!!

What an important question!

Let’s see what scripture has to tell us about such amazing things:

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Romans 10:9‭-‬15 NLT

Declare and believe! Call upon the name of the Lord!

Read these particular verses,

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:9‭, ‬13 NLT

And decide to believe right now. Decide to declare right now. Call upon the name of the Lord right now, and know that none will stand against you when you are humbled at the foot of the cross, when you are clinging to the hem of his garment, when his arms with nail pierced hands are wrapped around you!

I don’t care if you’ve “said it before”. I don’t care if you’ve “gone through the motions before”.

I’m asking you today, that if you are not fully trusting in the Lord, if you are still trying to fight your own battles, if you have been struggling and losing against your temptations, your thoughts, your words, your actions, your desires that are not holy, righteous, and in line with the Word of God, if you have been fostering unforgiveness, or bitterness, or envy, or jealousy, or ill will towards someone else — I’m asking you to lay it all down at the foot of the cross, DECLARE, BELIEVE, AND CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD!

HE WILL NOT FAIL OR ABANDON YOU!!