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The Key To Victory Over Your Enemies

There is a very familiar adage that says - "God helps those who help themselves." Is this saying Scriptural? The Bible seems to prove the opposite as true.

Oftentimes God waits until we are brought to the end of our resources and the insufficiency of all creatures around us to help us when He finally comes on the scene to our rescue.


David knew what it was like to face overwhelming circumstances and constant trouble.
Being a King, he had many resources to fall back on.
Yet, it is recorded in Psalm 60:11 that he prayed to the Lord God of Israel and said - "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man."

He knew that God was the Only One Who could provide help, assistance, and relief for him. Assuredly, he believed that any deliverance, rescue, or safety from man was useless, worthless, ineffectual, to no purpose, and simply empty.

Psalm 60:11 - That is why he boldly pleaded and proclaimed - "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man."

Oh! Precious Saint of God! Do you believe that today?
Is your sufficiency wrapped up in the Lord Jesus?
Psalm 121:1-2 - Can you say with the Psalmist - "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth"?

David declared before all - "Through God..."
He had total confidence in the Power and Promises of God to see him through any circumstance or battle with his enemies.

"Through God we shall do valiantly..." - Any success that he acquired would be attributed to the Lord God and Him alone. He knew that any and all strength, might, efficiency, wealth, ability, and force came by the help of God. In and through Him was he able to do great and valiant acts. He knew that it was "through God" that he was able to have the strength to withstand his enemies and to have the spirit and the courage to go to war against them.

What about us today? Can we say with David that it is "through God..." that we fight our enemies?

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 - The Scriptures tell us that "...we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.)"
It is "through God" that we obtain the Victory.
In fact, Zechariah 4:6 says - "...Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."

Psalm 60:12 reiterates - "Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies."

God Himself would enable David to accomplish, produce, acquire, and act with effect against his enemies. He would be the One Who would enable him to trample down any and every foe, adversary, or oppressor that stood in his way.

"Through God!"
         "Through God!"
                  "Through God!"

"Through God we shall do valiantly..."

This same principle is emphasized throughout the Scriptures -

• 2 Corinthians 2:14 - "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ..."

• 1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

• Psalm 106:47 - "Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen..."

• Romans 8:37 - "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us."

• Psalm 98:1 - "O sing unto the LORD a new song; for He hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and His holy arm, hath gotten Him the victory."

• Psalm 62:1 - "Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation."

• Psalm 62:7 - "In God is my salvation and my glory..."

• Psalm 74:12 - "For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth."

• Proverbs 21:31 - "The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD."

• John 16:33 - "...In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

• 1 John 5:4-5 - "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"

David said in Psalm 140:7 - "O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle."

He continually looked to the Lord God of Israel for Victory over his enemies.

Once again, Psalm 60:12 says - "Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies."

Throughout the Psalms we read of such claims from David concerning His God. Psalm 18 is no exception.

Let's examine some verses in this particular Psalm to see how he wholeheartedly confessed and professed that God and God alone was his "help" - salvation, deliverance, rescue, safety, and victory over his enemies.

Psalm 18:32 - "It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect." - The girdle was a necessary part of the Eastern dress. The Orientals wore the long flowing robe that was girded up when journeying or laboring so that it did not impede their progress. As the girdle was to the body so is the strength of God to our souls. He girds us with strength so that we may run and labor with speed and without any hindrance.

In addition, He makes our way perfect. This means that He gives us complete success in all of our undertakings. He enables us to carry them out without fail. He directs us so that we do not go astray. He crowns our labors with prosperity.

Psalm 18:33 - "He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places." - A hind was a female deer which was remarkable for its fleetness and swiftness. Like the hind, God gives us great swiftness or speed of foot to pursue our fleeing enemies or to escape from a swift-running foe.

Our "high places" are the places of refuge and safety. When God sets us upon our "high places," He renders us safe from all danger and harm.

Psalm 18:34 - "He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms." - David attributed all the success in his military exercises to His God. It was God Who gave him the skill and understanding in military affairs.

It was God Who also gave Him Extraordinary, Physical Strength to withstand his enemies. It was as if he had the ability to break a bow made of metal(in most cases brass).

God can do the same for us today. He can give us Extraordinary Strength to withstand our adversary(and having done all to stand) and never back down or quit.

Psalm 18:35 - "Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation: and Thy right hand hath holden me up, and Thy gentleness hath made me great." - Constantly and in all places, God defended and protected David. In all battles and dangers, He threw His shield before him.

When in danger of falling or failing, He had sustained David with His right hand.

He dealt with him in gentleness, meekness, kindness, mildness, and clemency. He enabled him to bear and forbear, to react with courage in times of adversity and with humility and meekness in times of prosperity. God and His ways were the source of his greatness.

God has also given us His shield for our protection. He will uphold us with His Mighty Right Hand. He will deal with us in gentleness and mildness, multiply us, and bring us to greatness as He did David.

Psalm 18:36 - "Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip." - Do you feel straitened, compressed, or hindered in your goings? Do you feel as though the enemy is prevailing against you? God will enlarge your steps. He will make room for your feet.

He will enable you to walk without hindrance or obstruction. He will enable you to walk firmly without a limp.

The word "feet" refers to the ankle joint which is very useful in walking and liable to be easily sprained or dislocated. God will give strength to your feet so that you may walk firmly and without a limp.

Psalm 18:37 - "I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed" - This is a picture of complete success and absolute triumph. God gives us strength to not only pursue our enemies but to come up to them and overtake them. We will not be the ones who will retreat or be driven back because of weariness or exhaustion. We will vanquish every foe until there are none left.

Psalm 18:38 - "I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet." - God enables us to pursue our enemies until they are weakened, entirely prostrated before us, and not able to rise up again against us. The idea given here is one of successful pursuit and conquest. We have completely trodden them down.

Psalm 18:39 - "For Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me." - God will cause those who oppose us to finally bow down and submit to us. He will enable us to overcome all opposition coming our way.

Psalm 18:40 - "Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me." - When applied to war, treading upon the necks of our adversaries means complete triumph and conquest. Just as the neck of an ox is brought into subjection to its owner, even so we will be made the conqueror and the ones in total control over our foes. We will utterly overcome them. We will put an end to their power and ability to ever harm or injure us again.

Psalm 18:47 - "It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me" - God will assuredly punish our enemies and all those who had done us any wrong. He will keep down their spirits and reduce them to obedience. Their hands will be weakened, and they will be brought into divine order under us.

Psalm 18:48 - "He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, Thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: Thou hast delivered me from the violent man." - God is our Mighty Deliverer. He has delivered, does deliver, and will continue to deliver us from all those that rise up against us. We can count on that!

He will cause us to triumph over each and every one of our foes.. He will exalt us, and they will be humbled and brought down. He will rescue us from the "violent man" - the man of injustice and wrongdoing, the man who endeavored to overcome us by force and cruel means.

Psalm 18:50 - "Great deliverance giveth He to His king....." - This word "deliverance" is in the plural and is better rendered as "salvations." It refers to the many acts of deliverance that God will undertake for us to rescue us from all danger and even death itself.

Did you notice in each of these verses that David attributed his great success to the Lord God and Him alone?

"It is God that girdeth me with strength..."
"It is God that...maketh my way perfect."
"It is God Who "maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places."
"It is God Who "teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms."
"It is God Who "hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation..."
"It is God Who "hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip."
"It is God Who "subdued under me those that rose up against me."
"It is God Who "hast also given me the necks of mine enemies..."
"It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me."
"It is God Who "delivereth me from mine enemies..."
"Great Deliverance comes from our God!!!

Psalm 60:11-12 - Is it any wonder that David earnestly prayed with utmost assurety and confidence - "Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for He it is that shall tread down our enemies."

Wherein lies your confidence today?
In whose strength are you depending for victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil?
The key to your victory can be found in two very simple words - "through God."

Why not make a quality decision to no longer depend upon your own resources - your own strength, willpower, intelligence, wealth, family, friends, etc. - to see you through your rough places and the battles that you are presently facing?
Why not begin today to totally depend on the God of your salvation?

He will see you through and bring you to total victory.
You can count on it!
His Word is true!


May God Bless His Word.
Connie

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