Day 65: The Way Of The Warrior

In our recent devotionals, we’ve been exploring the reason, God the Father chose the town of Bethlehem for the birth of Messiah.  Bethlehem was rural Judah, it’s only notoriety, was King David had lived there.  That historic fact never even elevated the town to tourist attraction status.  It was a place known for herding sheep, and at the birth of Christ, shepherds were the scoundrels of society.  If they were close, people moved, because they brought crime and degradation – like modern drug dealers. Why choose this place?

In our last devotional we took a step back and looked at the supernatural realm getting a glimpse of the tension and fighting in heaven.  We noted Paul said: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Eph. 6:12).  Cosmic warfare is going on, two huge warring factions are banging into one another.  This also has an impact in the natural realm – for you and me.  You may not have understood that you are a warrior in this fight, but now you are alerted.

We have a superstar leader: That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Eph. 1:20, 21).  You don’t have to win the battle yourself, you have the most dynamic force in the Universe to handle the battle plans and strategies.  However, you are  involved in this.  You enlisted in this fight, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ.

The battleground is planet earth, in addition to the heavenlies.  Jesus came to win both.

Do you think that evil supernatural forces know this?  Yep, they know Scripture.  Where is the location that Messiah is going to invade human history? But you, O Bethlehem…who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Mic. 5:2).

By the way, supernatural evil has their own town! Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast. (Rev. 18:2). That time frame is future but know that invasion of earth by the holy and profane is not unusual.

Supernatural evil will contest whatever holiness desires.  Read Daniel 10.  Briefly, we’ll note a couple of events from that chapter. Daniel was praying for 21 days and got crickets. Finally, an angel arrived with an answer, and stated: “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. (Dan. 10:12).  So what?

The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, (Dan. 10:13).  This was supernatural warfare.  A bunch of evil supernaturals, resisted God’s angel.  Michael, the archangel, (Jude 1:9; Rev 12:7) came to help.  What then? Then he said…But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. (Dan. 10:20).  Cosmic warfare has earthly battlefields! The prince of Persia and the prince of Greece are demonic beings who have earthly authority over earthly territory. Is your head spinning? Don’t be surprised about this.  Put your boots and helmets on.

Ah, hah…Bethlehem! Who controls Bethlehem?  Wanna know?  Follow this…

After Israel left Egypt, they went through the wilderness for 40 years, they’d been given the Promised Land (Exodus 33:1).  Before Moses died, he gave the Israelites a history lesson: Ascribe greatness to our God! “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. (Deut. 32:3b, 4).

When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. (Deut. 32:8).  The nations of the earth (Genesis 10) were divided up, and the ‘sons of God’ the demonic realm, were given authority over those nations.  Remember Psalm 82:1-8; 89:5-7?

But the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage. (Deut. 32:9).  The Lord took one tiny sliver of land to be his domain – Israel – the Promised land.  Seems like the Lord takes the worst place possible: “He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. (Deut. 32:10).  God is going to take that land and the people Israel and change the entire world.  He gave dominion of the world to other supernatural powers, he stacked the deck against himself, and he’s starting with the worst territory, and the weakest people – former slaves, without property. With that he will change the entire earth: I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen. 12:3).  God takes the worst and makes it the best, while Satan and his cohorts take the rest, and make the worst.

Bethlehem is the birthplace of mankind’s champion, based in God’s territory.  That is why Messiah was not born in Rome, or Athens.  But why Bethlehem? Why not Jerusalem?

Do not suppose the Lord is just throwing darts at a map, and he hits Bethlehem.  You need to learn the Lord has an immense knowledge, and if you were playing chess with him, he wouldn’t be three moves ahead of you, but three centuries ahead of you.  He does nothing by happenstance.  Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ (Isa. 46:10).

Bethlehem has tons for meaning for you and me.  We’ll unwrap it, but make sure your faith is settled in the fact that the Lord is not capricious and does all things for the benefit of our well-being – even when we do not understand our conditions.  Bethlehem is not a mystery to be revealed, but a truth to be absorbed.  Come back to a new perspective of a God who plans all eternity and fills it with mercy and grace (Heb 4:16).  You my friend are in the forefront of his mind, even centuries before you are born.

Bethlehem is not Satan’s territory, but it is also not pristine.  There are challenges there. Come and learn how the Lord exerts his holiness and purity, to make it meaningful.

By Nathan Werner