Today's Passage - Joshua 10:22-27

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Joshua 10:22-27       Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me." So they brought the five kings out of the cave - the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous." This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight." Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening. At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.    As people of God, we must remember that God has already given us the authority to defeat the enemy. After Joshua led the Israelites to defeat their enemy, he told the army commanders: "Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. When Joshua was called by God, God told him the same thing, which meant that Joshua was also easily scared. Once a person experienced God, however, his faith will be established, and he will start to develop a courageous heart. Joshua experienced God's power when He was weak, experienced God's mercifulness through his failures, and experienced God's salvation when he was in despair. Through many battles, he started to be strengthened, and not only did he know the God he believed in has authority, he also started to hold on to the authority that God gave him. God often uses circumstances to train us. Every failure and hardship is an opportunity for God to discipline us. They help our arms to strengthen, so that we can put the enemy to death. May God help us, never reject the circumstances He puts us in, for in every circumstance God has prepared grace and lesson that we should actively seek to gain and learn.   On the other hand, Joshua also encouraged his commanders not to be afraid in using the authority that was already given by God to proclaim victory against the enemy. He asked them to step on the necks of the Kings as a proclamation that they had the enemies under their feet. Lord is our victorious Savior, for He has given the authority to be victorious to us so that we may put the enemy under our feet. Perhaps you would think that you are the smallest and most lowly part of the body of Christ, but which part of the human body is the smallest and most lowly? It's the feet! Ephesians 1:22 says that "God placed all things under his feet." Even if you are the feet of Christ, He has already given the authority to overcome the enemy to you! The enemy may be the authority, power, or trend in the world, it may be bondage of sin, it may also be stronghold from idol worship pain, or even just an old habit; however, in Jesus Christ we can put all of them under our feet, Hallelujah! Let's lift up our voices to praise our Lord!    Pray with Pastor Tong       Lord, we praise you because you are our victorious Lord. You are telling us once again not to be afraid and discouraged, because you have placed the enemy under our feet. Not just one enemy, but all enemies! In Jesus Christ we can proclaim victory against the world and again all sins. I think you and I pray and victorious name of Jesus, amen!