SAFETY IS OF THE LORD

BY Evangelin Unity Esaaba Folson

Proverbs 21:31
The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the victory belongs to the Lord (safety is of the Lord)
These days because of the use of technology, battles are not the same as before. In the days when the bible was written, battles were fought on the open field with horses, sword and amours. Soldiers from the two parties faced each other on the battle field. The one who wins has to kill almost all the soldiers from the opposing party or send them back running or have them surrender. But civilians are safe.

Today, battles are not so scary because advanced technology is used. Soldiers use planes, ships, amour cars, guns, nuclear weapons and bombs. You cannot run away, your leader has to make a public statement of surrender. Soldiers do not have to always face each other, a plane or ship can drop bombs or nuclear weapons. Civilians are no longer safe although, technically they are not part of the battle.
The verse from proverbs says the horses prepares for battle but safety is of the Lord meaning, you can train and make your horse or weapons for battle ready but the safety and victory belongs to the Lord. Why?

A horse or nuclear weapons can be prepared far in advance before the battle but one small fault can destroy the most powerful weapon of war or the best strategy of defense. It is only the Lord that can ensure you are safe and victorious. Therefore in the time of physical or spiritual warfare you do not only prepare your weapons and strategy but you must also:

 Seek the face of the Lord or pray
1 Samuel 30:8
Arts 6:4

 Know you enemy
1 Peter 5:8

 Be ready at all times
(put your armour)
Ephesians 6: 10-12

Seek the face of the Lord or pray
1 Samuel 30:8

And David inquired at the Lord, saying, shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them? And He answered Him, Pursue: for they shalt surely over take them, and without fail recover all.
Arts 6:4
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

The verse from 1 Samuel 30, gives an account of how David sought the Lord before going into battle. I believe He did, because he knew his safety depended on the Lord and not on His skilled men of war or weapons. He received clearance from the Lord and when he went out to battle, he completely destroyed his enemies and recovered all the booty they had taken from his kingdom.

In Acts 6:4 the Apostles wanted to devout themselves to prayer and study of the word and leave the other church responsibilities to other dedicated men of God. They were leaders and their job was to lead God’s people to fulfill their ministry. To do this effectively they had to seek the Lord’s face and study the word.
As a leader or ambassador of Christ, the Lord is depending on you to draw men to Him. This responsibility would put you in constant battle with the evil one and his host of angels. You need to seek the Lord’s face daily, for safety and victory.

Know your enemy
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober; be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour:
There is a story of a General in the army, who got frustrated, because his soldiers and men were pointing their guns at their own headquarters leaving the enemy free to operate and destroy.
That is how God feels, some Christians blamer God for everything that happens to them (turn their guns to the headquarters) forgetting that their real enemy is the devil. James 1:13-14 says:
Let no man sat when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted he any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
If you keep attacking God for the evil that comes your way, you will be completely destroyed because you are weakening your defense and safety which comes from the Lord.

Be ready at all times (put on your armor)
Ephesians 6:10-12
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the will of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual weaknesses in high places.

So far, I have talked about physical warfare. You know your enemy and you have the weapons that can destroy him completely. The major problem with modern warfare is that civilians can be affected, a bomb or nuclear weapon can destroy a whole country or continent, therefore, leaders have to be diplomatic to reduce the damages.

With spiritual warfare, you know your enemy, you cannot see Him but he can see you. Only God can fight for you, because He can see the devil and He knows how to destroy his works.
What you must do as a Christian is to put on your armour and use your weapons of destruction.

Your armour consists of the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shield of faith and weapons of destruction are prayer, the word of God and praise and worship. Read more about your armour and your weapons of warfare from Ephesians 6:10-20

Conclusion
We are in constant battle with the devil and his fallen angels always. He is so cunning that sometimes you do not realize you are in a fight because he deceives you, making you think everything is normal, fine and acceptable.

Learn to seek the Lord’s clearance for every project or assignment you undertake (big or small) for safety and victory only comes from the Lord.