What do the Battle of New Orleans and Satan have in common?

      What do the Battle of New Orleans and Satan have in common? 


      Sing along with me: “In 1814 we took a little trip along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip.  We took a little bacon and we took a little beans, and we fought the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.”

Okay, so if you know that song, you’re a senior citizen, like me.

What do the Battle of New Orleans and Satan have in common?





First, let’s read Satan’s declaration in Isaiah 14:12-14:

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!

“For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the most High.’” (NKJV)


      In his pride, ambition, and self-will, Lucifer declared independence from his Creator, the Most High God. He set himself equal to God. Lucifer’s rebellion was a declaration of war on God and thus a declaration of war on God’s most beloved creation—Mankind. So, the war of the universe had begun.


     My pastor often says, “Pride is the firstfruit of unbelief.” Look what pride did to Lucifer, impacting the entire human race. 


     Satan’s rebellion and the Battle of New Orleans have something in common.


     I was recently reminded that the Battle of New Orleans took place a few days after the signing of the Treaty of Ghent which was the peace treaty that ended the War of 1812.


     American, Bvt. Maj. General Andrew Jackson and British, Maj. General Sir Edward Packenham were unaware that that the war had ended. Though Jackson’s victory boosted the total American win of the war, the loss of life was unfortunate and unnecessary, about 250 Americans and about 2,000 British soldiers died on the battlefield that day. (This battle lasted approximately 30 minutes and 2,250 men died!)


      Consider the war casualties after the war had actually ended. What a shame!


      So, what do the Battle of New Orleans and Satan have in common?


      Consider the war casualties of death, unfulfilled lives and purposes, lack of victory, ill health, lack of peace, and on and on, in the lives of God’s children who don’t realize or have forgotten that the cosmic war between good and evil has been won—it’s over and done. “It is finished.”


      Jesus defeated Satan when He was crucified, restored to life, and walked out of the grave.


      We need to be continually mindful of this truth. We fight battles regularly, even daily. We have anxieties, think bad thoughts, suffer physical and emotional pain, get mad or frustrated, and so on. It’s part of life. But the ultimate victory is ours when we’re trusting in Christ Jesus, even when some outcomes don’t go our way.  


      I often remind myself what Jesus said. “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NASB).


      Let’s remember, every day, that Satan is defeated. Jesus already won the war and victory is already ours because we are His.


      Please join me in prayer. Holy God, thank You for sending Jesus to defeat Satan. Only Jesus could have stood against such a foe. And now, with the Spirit of Christ in us, we too have the power to win against Satan’s devices.  Help us to be mindful daily that Jesus already won the war and we can take courage, knowing He has overcome the world and we are His own. In Jesus name we pray—Amen. 

©Copyright 2019 Connie Wohlford

How can I know it's God?

“Risikili” – Part 3 – How can I know it's God?

We continue with RiSiKiLi−

                       You know, Read it, study it, know it, live it.

 

In my last post we established that God knew His plan for each of us before we were born and that our enemy/God’s enemy will try to derail the plan if we’re not vigilant. Also we spoke of abundant life and God’s desire that we attain His idea of abundant life, which is far beyond anything we could dream up. 

     

Photo by Margot Pandone

So let’s continue looking at how God’s Word plays a role in this. We need to examine our personal desires in every aspect of life. In order to line up our highest desires with His highest desires for us, we must get to know Him and His nature. By prayerfully reading and studying His Word we get to know God. In reading the four gospels− Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John− we learn about Jesus. In knowing Jesus, we know  God. 

As we know Him better, we begin to recognize His unfailing love for us. As we comprehend this matchless love, we will trust Him more. As we trust Him more, we begin to step out in faith more boldly into the path He designed for us. 

The path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble (Proverbs 3:18-19).

If we’re listening, God will speak to us through His Word. Yes, He speaks to us in other ways as well− such through another Christian or by His Own Spirit speaking to our own spirit. But the only way to prove we’ve heard a Word from God and be certain that it really came from God is to see that it lines up with His written Word.  Many people take action on what they thought was a Word from God, to simply later find themselves disillusioned and confused.  

Just today, I heard someone say that he knows a man who says he doesn’t need to read his Bible. He just listens to the Holy Spirit. Whoa! That sounds scary! When we think God is telling us something, we need to prove it against His Word. The Holy Spirit will never tell us anything that does not line us with God’s Word—the Bible.    

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

And another thing− if we want to hear from God, it’s imperative that we pray. We need to talk to Him and listen for Him to talk back to us. 

And remember, as we said last time, Satan does indeed have a plan for each of us and one of the best ways to begin to walk out Satan’s plan is to walk in our own plan.  The road of my own plan will eventually merge right into his.  So many blindly choose this route and then wonder how their life turned out so disappointing. Often they will attribute it to “bad luck.”  Well, luck has nothing to do with it and the word “luck” is not in my Bible.  Bad luck is a commonly used excuse for consequences resulting from not walking in God’s Truth.

 

So how can one know this “Truth,” in order to walk in it?  Since “Truth” and God’s Word are synonymous, the answers are waiting in the pages of His Scriptures.  

“There is no such thing as health or growth in Christian living apart from a clear priority on the place of the Bible in the life of the individual or the group.” Jack Hayford 

Let’s pray these psalms > Lord, I ask that You “Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul” (Psalm 143:8).  “Guide me in Your truth and teach me” (Psalm 25:5). In Jesus name--- AMEN. 

Photo by Joshua Sortino