“Glory to the Precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Philippians 3: 3

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen

We, the bride, the church in any circumstance should receive the guidance from God and be as those who overcome in the spiritual fight.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in the portion of the Bible that we meditated upon in the past days, we meditated that if we, the bride, the church know the will of the Lord and do accordingly only then we can grow spiritually. That is, Abner the commander of Saul’s army, made Ishbosheth the son of Saul as King of Israel without asking the guidance of the Lord. Then Israel and Judah were separated as two and fought against each other.

Next what we are meditating upon is that 2 Samuel 2: 18 – 20 Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle. 

So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner.

Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?” He answered, “I am.”

When we meditate upon the above-mentioned verses, in the war between Israel and Judah Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David. Now the three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab and Abishai and Asahel. And Asahel was as fleet of foot as a wild gazelle. So Asahel pursued Abner, and in going he did not turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner. Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Are you Asahel?” He answered, “I am.”

Then the words that Abner told Asahel is that 2 Samuel 2: 21, 22 And Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and lay hold on one of the young men and take his armor for yourself.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 

So Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I face your brother Joab?”

After Abner said the above-mentioned words, Asahel is saying that he would not turn aside from following him. Seeing that Asahel is not turning aside Abner in 2 Samuel 2: 23 – 32 However, he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still.

Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon. 

Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill. 

Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?”

And Joab said, “As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.” 

So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore. 

Then Abner and his men went on all that night through the plain, crossed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim.

So Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. 

But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died. 

Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.

Abner struck him in the stomach with the blunt end of the spear, so that the spear came out of his back; and he fell down there and died on the spot. So it was that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died, stood still. Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon. Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became a unit and took their stand on top of a hill. Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?” And Joab said, “As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.” So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore. Then Abner and his men went on all that night through the plain, crossed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron; and they came to Mahanaim. So Joab returned from pursuing Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David’s servants nineteen men and Asahel. But the servants of David had struck down, of Benjamin and Abner’s men, three hundred and sixty men who died. Then they took up Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at daybreak.

My dear people, the words mentioned above are that in the churches of God the separations that occur God is showing here as a pattern. In all churches there are two groups of people. In that one group do spiritual worship and the others are not being led by the Holy Spirit. Those who are led by the Holy Spirit in their inner man they have received strength. The others are the crowd of Abner, those who are doing things according to their own thoughts. Both these groups are separated. Those who are fighting the spiritual warfare are of the tribe of Judah who are the people of David. Regarding them, the word of God in

Romans 2: 28, 29 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 

but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Those who are living the above-mentioned verses, as those whose hearts have been circumcised will have the praise of Christ by God. Also, though they are brothers, only those who are spiritual will possess the promise. In this manner, let each one of us submit ourselves to possess the promise.

Let us pray. May the Lord bless you all abundantly. 

       - To be continued