THE GREATEST ALLY IN BATTLE: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 10TH MAY 2018

MEMORISE:
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. 2 Chronicles 20:17

READ: Exodus 17:8-15

8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:

MESSAGE:

Jehovah-Nissi is a name of the Lord that has its roots in Exodus 17:15. After Joshua and the Israelites had defeated the Amalekites at Rephidim, Moses erected an altar to commemorate this victory and he called it "Jehovah-Nissi", which means "Yahweh is my banner". In other words, he was saying "the Lord is my banner of victory". This name is a call to God's people to rally around God as an army gathers around its banner, because God is the One who leads us to victory.

To understand the significance of the name Jehovah-Nissi, we need to remind ourselves that the devil is constantly waging spiritual battles against us. While the forces of darkness vigorously pursue newly converted Christians in order to obstruct their spiritual progress, they are also on the look-out for any opportunity to pull mature Christians down.

However, in spite of these progressive attacks of the enemy, God expects us to rejoice, knowing fully well that although the battle may be fierce, the Lord of hosts and the Captain of our salvation is in our midst leading the charge against the enemy's camp. In Matthew 28:20, He said:

"...lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

As Jehovah-Nissi, God is concerned about the devil's roars and attempt to harrass and intimidate His children (1 Peter 5:8). To assure and comfort our hearts, His attitude towards this ploy of the enemy was manifested in Judges 15:14:

"And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands."

The enemy's roars and shouts against us always trigger a response from the Holy Spirit living inside us. No wonder Isaiah 59:19b says,

"When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him."

God has zero tolerance for the enemy's harrassments and threats against His children, whom He bought with the precious Blood of His Son, Jesus. With this understanding, you will realise that our God is the greatest ally you can have in the battle of life. The Almighty God is Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our Banner, and He is the Lord of hosts. Therefore, the battle is not yours but His. Always be conscious of the reality of the Lord as Jehovah-Nissi in your life.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, You are my Jehovah-Nissi, please respond to every roaring threat of the enemy against me in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Samuel 24-25, James 2:14-3:12.

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 10: MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE

1. My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Saviour divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
Take all my guilt away,
Oh, let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!

2. May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire!
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh, may my love to Thee
Pure, warm, and changeless be,
A living fire!

3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be Thou my guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside.

4. When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold, sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll;
Blest Saviour, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove;
Oh, bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul!