stand

Posted on February 19, 2004 by Dana

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Ephesians 6:10-13

Oswald Chambers wrote, “These verses are not a picture of how to fight, but of how not to fight. If you have not put on the armour, you will have to fight; but ‘having put on the whole armour of God, then stand’, says Paul. There are times when God’s servants are sent out to attack, to storm the citadel, but the counsel given here is as to how we are to hold the position which has been gained.”

The greatest thing we have gained, is Christ… and that is where me must stand. “Build your house on the Rock.” “Be rooted in Christ.” “Remain in Me.” God knows our safe Position… and so does Satan.

The strategy of the enemy is to get us to take our eyes off of what is most important. I’ve confessed how quickly ‘the important things’ have seemed less important as health comes back and the storm lessens. But are the important things really less important? And if the most important thing is that we abide in Christ and know Him as Lord and Friend, then will the enemy not try to deceive? “How ridiculous to think simply standing in Christ is most important! Don’t believe such foolishness!” And if he can’t diminish our Saviour with the voices of a fallen world, then he will attack with the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. And if he can’t cause us to sin, then he will try to knock us off the Rock by circumstances or heartache or difficulty. But in God’s armor, clothed with His power, we can stand.

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:14-18

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Warrior

Posted on February 13, 2004 by Dana

So how do I fight the “good fight” if I’ve never been trained to be a soldier? What if I’ve never seen myself as a ‘Braveheart’? What if I’m not even clear about the war?

Thank God we have a Mighty Warrior who sees perfectly. Thank God a Heart braver than William Wallace went before us. John caught a glimpse of this Holy One. “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.” Revelation 19:11-15

In our race, we are instructed to “fix our eyes on Jesus” who fought, endured, and won the victory. “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” The secret for Jesus on earth was that He knew He was not alone. “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son does also.” “By myself I can do nothing.” “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” No wonder He is the Mighty Warrior!

So what about me? “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, whom you have received from God?” If I really believe that God lives in me, there should be no fear. As Jesus is my hope of salvation and every other spiritual blessing, so He is my hope of fighting the “good fight”.

“I am with you, even to the end of the world. Quit looking at yourselves and look at Me. Because I live, you live. Realize that I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. As I kept my eyes on my Father while I walked the earth, so you must keep your eyes on Me now. I suffered; you will suffer… but because I persevered, you can persevere. The world does not see Me, but you can… with the eyes of your heart. Believe what I tell you and follow Me.”

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galations 2:20

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war

Posted on February 6, 2004 by Dana

“God’s not doing this! Don’t you know you are at war?!” My friend, a missionary in Africa, was quite adamant. He had commented on the struggles several of us were going through and I had simply replied, “I hope we’re learning the lessons we’re supposed to learn.” This was not meant to be a summarizing statement on pain and suffering, but it started a fire within my friend. He clearly sees “the war” in the mission field and he wanted me to know we are all in it. “Satan hates you. He hates your Message and he hates your life. He does not just hate missionaries, he hates all who are sold out to the Master.”

I don’t think my friend would argue that we learn much as we go through struggle, but he would say, “That’s not the main point.” Those who have declared that “Satan is vanquished and Jesus is King” have entered a war. Be aware.

“Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from the Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers…” Why did the one who wrote most of the letters in the New Testament encounter such hardship? Was God against him? Of course not… the Lord had chosen him! “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My Name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My Name.”

Jesus was not saying, “This guy has been My enemy, so I’m going to pay him back.” Rather, when He revealed Himself to Saul, He knew everything was going to change. A zealous man, who had been imprisoning Christians, was about to fall in love with Christ. A subject to the kingdom of darkness was about to enter the kingdom of light. A man who had been confused was about to see clearly. And Jesus knew that the same enemy who opposed Him would oppose Paul. Paul was entering a war… in which he would suffer and eventually die. But in the journey, he would find abundant life and true hope. Be encouraged by his words.

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearing.” II Timothy 4:6-8

“Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time – God the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.” I Timothy 6:12-16

“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:18-19

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anticipation

Posted on January 30, 2004 by Dana

Of the seven books of the Chronicles of Narnia, THE LAST BATTLE is my favorite. Deception… confusion… recognition of the enemy… the last battle… the coming of the King… the end of things as we know it…and the beginning of “the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

I’ve been deceived many times. I’ve been confused. I’ve been in a few battles. How I long to see the King! He says “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” We can’t even imagine how grand it will be!

Anticipation….. “I can’t wait til I turn 16!” “I can’t wait til I graduate!” “I can’t wait til our baby arrives!” “I can’t wait til my kids graduate!”… The Holy Spirit produces a deeper longing: “Look forward to the Day!” “Anticipate His coming!” Jesus says, “Watch!”

Of course, the enemy wants to rob us of this anticipation that brings joy and helps us persevere. The great attack against the cancer patient is hopelessness. Lengthy illness creates despair. When you can’t remember what it was like being healthy, it is hard to anticipate getting better. Whenever “the last battle” comes, I expect such confusion will be at work. The devil will want things so dark that believers forget to anticipate their hope. “Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” Or as Aslan told the children as He welcomed them to His country: “The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream has ended: this is the morning.”

“Therefore my brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” see I Corinthians 15:50-58

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14

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broken

Posted on January 22, 2004 by Dana

South African author, Alan Paton, wrote a powerful novel that was first published in 1948. CRY,THE BELOVED COUNTRY is the story of a father’s search for his only son, who had left the rural African hills to pursue life in the dangerous city of Johannesburg. The boy’s name was Absalom, reminding us of another son who had departed from his father long ago. How David longed for things to be right with this handsome young man, but it would not be. A father’s broken heart cried out when news came of a violent death. “Absalom, O Absalom. Would it were I who died in your place!”

Last week I stood next to another grieving father whose son lay in a rose covered casket. This father was my uncle and his son was my cousin, Paul, who took his own life. A broken world produces such tragedy and we ask “why?”

There is another Father who weeps. He wept when a son and daughter first brought sin into the world and He weeps today. It is not God’s will that men destroy one another. It was not God’s will that my cousin destroy himself. In a dark world, Paul must have felt there was nowhere to go. The voices around him shut out the Voice of the One who constantly says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” This One’s love went further than the cry of King David… He did die in our place.

I have few words to comfort my hurting family, but I do sense the broken heart of a Father… and I cry.

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.’” Luke 19:41-42

“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Malachi 4:5-6

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