The battle belongs to the Lord

Tuesday 10th February 2026

“Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying: ²“Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male individually, ³from twenty years old and above—all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies. ⁴And with you there shall be a man from every tribe, each one the head of his father’s house. ⁵“These are the names of the men who shall stand with you: from Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; ⁶from Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; ⁷from Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab; ⁸from Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar; ⁹from Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon; ¹⁰from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur; ¹¹from Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni; ¹²from Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai; ¹³from Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran; ¹⁴from Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel; ¹⁵from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.” ¹⁶These were chosen from the congregation, leaders of their fathers’ tribes, heads of the divisions in Israel.” Numbers 1:1-16 NKJV

Father God,

So we move from Exodus to Numbers. The book that orders the way the Exodus should occur. How they camp, how they behave and who does what. And right at the outset it calls by name those who will organise themselves to attack or defend against any enemies that arise. I pray Lord that I never get a passage like this to read out loud. Thank goodness for being able to look up pronouncing names on Google or listen to audio scripture!

And I ask myself about Your family today Father in the church. I am fascinated by the picture You give us through Paul of being dressed in armour. The whole armour not just a part (Ephesians 6:11). But then all we are asked to do is stand (Ephesians 6:7-14). I am increasingly learning that in times of threat or when everything around me goes wrong i need to learn to stand still, recognise I am under attack by the enemy or life is throwing me a wobbler. Then ask You to battle for me. You do not call me to fight but stand trust and know You are God.

Even when we fight against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12) We are to stand. It is Your armour which is active protects us and defeats the enemy. Your Word of truth dispels lies, Your Spirit cuts through enemy forces, giving us faith in You. And Your gospel that enables us to stand safe and unmoved.

How wonderful that You know all the names of those who are able and can stand for You in our day. We are numbered amongst those who are Yours. And just as You fought with the Israelites You fight for us. But now it is not to kill our fellow man, it is to silence the enemy, stand safe in faith and save the lives of the lost.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 10th February 2026
Some songs should, as it were, stay in Your arsenal.

In heavenly armour we’ll enter the land
The battle belongs to the Lord
No weapon that’s fashioned against us shall stand
The battle belongs to the Lord

We sing glory and honor
Power and strength to the Lord
We sing glory and honor
Power and strength to the Lord
(repeat)

The power of darkness comes in like a flood
The battle belongs to the Lord
He’s raised up a standard, the power of His blood
The battle belongs to the Lord

Chorus

When your enemy presses in hard do not fear
The battle belongs to the Lord
Take courage my friend, your redemption is near
The battle belongs to the Lord
Repeat Verse . . .

Chorus
Power and strength to the Lord

Chorus
The battle belongs to the Lord . . .

Lyrics: Jamie Owens-Collins

Thursday 25th September 2025

“At the same time Tattenai the governor of the region beyond the River and Shethar-Boznai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: “Who has commanded you to build this temple and finish this wall?” ⁴Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were constructing this building.” Ezra 5:3,4 NKJV

“Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.” Ezra 5:17 NKJV

King of all Kings,

Tattenai the jealous, concerned neighbour. He did not come to make treaty or peace with those returned exiles. He came to question the legality and hopefully get the Babylonians, to keep them oppressed and in check. The problem is they did not have all the facts and though time had passed there was a legal record. One small scroll was found out in the province of Media. The Babylonians certainly searched high and low! Ezra tells us about it in Ezra 6:6-12

Not only did Tattenai have to leave the builders alone he was commanded to provide them with livestock, wheat, salt, ine and olive oil for their every day needs! Miraculously he does so rather than upset the Babylonians (Ezra 6:13). I wish I could have seen his face when he read the letter.

But then we should not gloat. It was You God that enabled a pagan King to give permission and provision for the return from exile and rebuilding of the Temple. To a people who had consistently let You down. You who enabled one obscure scroll to be found in another country. Sometimes we are no better than Tattenai and we are jealous or question what others are doing. We do not always see the whole picture. And You protect us. Keep us serving You when opposition comes in its various disguises. Help us stand against it and even help us turn it to good.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 25th September 2025
Whenever I think about standing against the lies or the enemy – this is the hymn that comes to mind most . . .

Thursday 27th March 2025

“Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. ²And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. ³You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. ⁴And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. ⁵It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.”” Joshua 6:1-5 NKJV

God of Victory,

You said to Joshua. Lord, my Lord there are times I have prayed just tell me what to do. And I have been so busy asking I do not think I gave You any room to speak. Joshua had in chapter 5 gone alone to overlook Jericho and in his contemplation and silence You spoke personally to him. Perhaps the Commander of the Lord’s Army was none other than Jesus? (Joshua 5:15).

Help us at times just to step away and look at our situation from the side and give You opportunity to speak. Here we learn that the battle is not Joshua’s alone. It took everyone. Young and old. And it was only at Your leading and recognition and trust that You would do what was humanly not possible. And the walls fell down.

We are told we battle against principalities and powers. rulers of the darkness of this age and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12). That is why You are our protective armour and strength against walls we cannot see. You can bring us victories if we work together in Your strength with Your guidance to pull down walls and not kill those behind but set them free in Jesus name.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 27th March 2025

In heavenly armour we’ll enter the land
The battle belongs to the Lord
No weapon that’s fashioned against us shall stand
The battle belongs to the Lord

We sing glory, honor
Power and strength to the Lord
We sing glory, honor
Power and strength to the Lord

When the power of darkness comes in like a flood
The battle belongs to the Lord
He’s raised up a standard, the power of His blood
The battle belongs to the Lord

Chorus

When your enemy presses in hard do not fear
The battle belongs to the Lord
Take courage my friend, your redemption is near
The battle belongs to the Lord

Chorus x 2

Lyrics: Jamie Owens-Collins