In 1799, when the armies of Napoleon were sweeping over the continent, the French General Massena suddenly appeared on the heights above the town of Feldkirch at the head of 18,000 men. It was Easter Day, and the rays of the rising sun glittered on the weapons of the French, as they appeared drawn up on the hills to the west of the town. The town council were hastily called together to consult what was to be done. To defend the town was out of the question. What, then, were they to do?
After much discussion, the old Dean of the Church rose and said, "My brothers, it is Easter Day! We have been reckoning our own strength, and that fails. Let us turn to God. Ring the bells and have services as usual, and leave the matter in God�s hands." They agreed to do as he said. Then, from the church towers in Feldkirch, there rang out joyous peals in honor of the Resurrection, whilst the streets were full of worshipers hastening to the house of God.
The French heard the sudden clanging of the joy-bells with surprise and alarm, and concluding that the Austrian army had arrived to relieve the place, Massena suddenly broke up his camp, gave the order to march, and before the bells had ceased ringing not a Frenchman was to be seen.
Today in many ways, we are experiencing the same type of threats and anxiety which were felt in that little town of western Austria. That Easter morning the enemy surrounded them also. Their first reaction at daybreak was to call the town counsel together. After much deliberation, someone finally spoke words of truth into the meeting. You see, the concerned men of the town council, as sincere as they were, could not resolve the problem. They were leaning to their own understanding for the answer.
Proverbs 3:5-6 5Trust nthe LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
The council was looking at the facts. The facts told them they were outnumbered, under armed, under trained and were facing a no win situation. There is nothing wrong with knowing the facts.
However, when you look for a senses solution in light of the facts, you are limiting yourself to the senses. The senses belong to the natural man, what the Bible calls the man of the flesh.
Throughout the Bible, there are reoccurring patterns, themes and truths. One that God seems to favor is giving us a chance to engage the enemy contrary to what the senses tell us.
The road to victory has never been an easy one. It's often paved with hardship, pain, and doubts.
There is a spiritual realm and there is a senses realm. The man of the senses or the natural man can only understand and receive information from the natural realm.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
This is why the unbelieving world cannot receive the knowledge of God. Their knowledge is based on facts, data, and models and limited to this. God, on the other hand, is not limited.
Matthew 19:26b With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Regarding facts and truth, consider the challenge Moses faced. The fact that he left Egypt was remarkable enough. But, to return and deliver a message to the most powerful man on the face of the earth to free his work force was foolish.
Exodus 5:1-2 1And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. 2And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
The fact that he was to be exterminated at birth didn't stop God.
Exodus 1:15-17 15And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see themupon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
The facts were the Red Sea blocked the children of Israel's escape.
Exodus 14:15-16 15And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: 16But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
Truth be told, they went through on dry ground.
NLT 1 Samuel 17:4 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was a giant of a man, measuring over nine feet tall!
The facts were that Goliath was a mammoth of a man.
NLT 1 Samuel 17:5 He wore a bronze helmet and a coat of mail that weighed 125 pounds.
Just how much do you think a young boy, a teenager weighs? I venture to say Goliath�s armor weighed more than David.
NLT 1 Samuel 17:6-7 6He also wore bronze leggings, and he slung a bronze javelin over his back. 7The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver's beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed fifteen pounds. An armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a huge shield. 1 Samuel 17:49-50 49And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. 50So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David. 1 Samuel 17:54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.
Truth be told, God must have missed the memo about Goliath.
Consider Noah, the facts were it had never rained before and Noah built an ark.
Genesis 2:5-6 5And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 6But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. Genesis 7:4-6 4For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. 5And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. 6And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.
Truth be told, Noah and his family were the only ones to survive. And by the way, he was 600 years old, not what we would call a spring chicken. Abraham and Sarah had a child when they were above 90 years old.
Gideon conquered tens of thousands maybe hundreds of thousands with just 300 men.
Judges 7:12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.
The walls of Jericho fell down flat. Joshua crossed the Jordon at flood stage. Daniel spent a night in the lion�s den. Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego were put into a fiery furnace. Samson killed 1000 men with a jaw bone of an ass. And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Barak, and of Jephthae and Samuel, and the prophets.
Truth be told, all the facts were heavily stacked against them, but, God saw to it that every one of them finished a winner. There is one more fact we have not mentioned yet and that is death.
John 19:26-30 26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. 28After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished; and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
The facts were in He was dead. Truth be told with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
John 20:11-19 11But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Just like that morning so many years ago in that little town in western Austria where the facts pointed to imminent defeat but God honored the believing actions of one man and saved the entire town.
Even the disciples were behind closed doors for fear but Jesus came and said peace. That same peace is ours today because it's given to us freely by that same Jesus.
The lion has roared against God's children once again and the facts point to fear and death. But, truth be told the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives inside of you. For you are complete in him and more than a conqueror. You can do all things through Christ and nothing can separate you from His love. If God be for us, who can be against us?
So go forth this resurrection day knowing you were bought with the precious blood of the Son of God. The same blood He gave for you cleanses and protects you from anything the devil can do. Walk out this resurrection day with joy and peace rejoicing in the truth and let the world stew in their facts. Truth be told, you are a child of God and He will never leave you or forsake you.
You are God's best, rejoice and be glad. Happy resurrection day!