Joshua 9:1-2
Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things--those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)-- they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel.
The news of battle of Ai spread throughout Canaan. The first reaction in Canaan was that of the kings west of Jordan River. When they heard it, they gathered together to fight Joshua and Israelites in one accord. When one is in a spiritual battle, he needs to be very vigilant, because our enemies can attack us from different fronts. Joshua represented Jesus Christ, because the word Joshua in the Old Testament and Greek Jesus in the New Testament have the same roots. In other words, this verse says that the enemies have determined to fight the Lord and His people. This has been the same in the Old Testament and the New Testament time.
At the time the Lord was captured, Herod and Pilate were enemies, alienated from each other. To try Jesus, these two became friends again, bound together, to attack the Lord. Revelation 12:12 says, "He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." Our enemies' intention will not change: it is to fight God and His people. As such, we shall really learn the lesson of being one. If our enemies bind together to attack us, shouldn't we bind together and defend ourselves? If our enemies bind together and attack God's church, how can we criticize and judge each other, debating who is more spiritual and who is more secular? How can we divide ourselves by saying, "You don't belong to me, I don't belong to you"? If church is an army, then it's an army that we have never seems before: an army that fights itself. Our enemies have bound together and are attacking our churches fiercely, but today's churches have not been vigilant and alert.
On the other hand, if our enemies have bound together to attack our family, how can we not forgive each other? How can we hurt each other with mean words? We often see the problems in our families superficially, but forget to notice there is a serious spiritual battle behind them. Many believers today are in a battle where bullets are flying, and yet don't know what is going on. May God let us have sober hearts to face the joint attacks from our enemies!
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, we thank you, because even though our enemies' attacks are fierce, the victory of the battle is in Jehovah. May the Spirit of the Lord once again move us abundantly so that in the places you have given us we can fight for you courageously. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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