25/07/09

The five hidden enemies of Christianity

Joshua 10:23-26 - And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them. And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.


Joshua and the Israelites defeated the armies of the five Kings in an unprecedented manner with the help of God, which the Lord Himself said He will not do again. Joshua even after defeating the armies drags out the five Kings out of the caves where they hid and makes the Israelites place their legs on the necks of the five Kings before killing them. This was symbolic to what we need to do with the five hidden enemies who are still there hidden in this world.

The meaning of the names of the five Kings of Amorites (white lies) gives a clue to the five enemies.

King of Jerusalem - peace (worldly)
God tells us to pursue peace as much as we can with this world but not at the cost of His Word or our relationship with Him. This is one of the main reasons many among us believers suffer.

King of Hebron - friendship
By calling another believer a friend we break the Blood relationship which Jesus has bound us with each other. This is one reason we do not go out of our way, like giving our lives for each other. This is done without thinking only for a family member but very rarely for a friend.

King of Jarmuth - Achivement
Most of us live with a purpose to make a name for ourselves in this world. We want everybody to remember us after we die. All man made structure will one day perish and one day all will forget you whatever you do. We should not strive lift our own names but the Name of the Lord - which is above every name. When we pursue to lift the Lord's Name, all that we do will be written in the Books in Heaven till the end of creation and we will be rewarded for it.

King of Lachish - Self Confidence
Once we become believers we think nothing will happen to us. It is not that God does not protect us, He does but it is His very own children, whom He chastises most. We need to see that we keep in the Word and grow the fruit(s) of the Holy Spirit in us so that the Word remains in us and grows in us. It is only then we face lesser and lesser problems.

King of Eglon - fertility
Being able to do many things is good but when one starts to believe that it is by one's own self ability that one achieve these things is when the problem comes in us and destroys us. Talent is such definition which is very common. A plane that flies does not have a talent to fly. It is made to fly for that purpose. We are given abilities by God for a purpose. We do not use these abilities for the purpose God has given us but tend to take ownership of that ability for our own glorification.

Let us get these hidden enemies out of their caves and choke them by first correcting our own selves and others around us and let is squeeze the very last breathe of them.


[ Prayer Starter ]

Father God, You have given us your Spirit. By your Spirit Lord, help us discern the teachings of this world and face our enemies fearlessly. Strengthen us, and like You manifested your power in Joshua, we ask You not to make the Sun and the Moon still but bring every worldly things in our lives to stand still that we may fight these enemies with your help...

This we ask in your Mighty Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]

Joshua 10:5-26
5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.
6 And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
8 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
9 Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.
15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
16 But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
18 And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:
19 And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.
20 And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.
21 And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
22 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.
23 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
24 And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
25 And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
26 And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)