Yesterday I shared in my blog about having a core theology and a standard for our lives. But we are not meant just "believe" something. We are "called" to action!! The action we are called to is also a calling to a spiritual battle. This battle is one that God fights for us, but we need to rely on His strength and His Spirit to fight in that battle. Scripture says we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces and our weapons must be spiritual weapons that are supplied by God. We are called to "be strong in the Lord" and not in our own strength. A prideful person will have trouble relinquishing their power to the Lord, but a wise, obedient person will welcome the power of God to fight the battle of life. In Ephesians 6:10-12 Paul wrote 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
We cannot totally understand just how evil that evil can go, but if we are sensitive to the battle we will come to some understanding about the need for us to let God lead our battle with His Battle Cry. In the above scripture we are not commanded to just "stand" but to "stand firm" in this battle. I can hear God calling out. HOLD....HOLD.....HOLD. NOW MOVE!! Too many times we stay in a "holding pattern" and we don't really get in the battle at all. We just sit back and take enemy fire and hope everything works out ok.
The promise from God is that He is greater than the evil forces attacking us, so we should move forward in faith as God fights before us. 1 John 4:4 says 4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. We are called to action and The Battle Cry of the lord is our beckoned call. God is beckoning us to come and fight and live the victorious life of a born-again believer. Jesus calls this The Abundant Life! This is not a draft where we are forced to fight, but it is a victorious call to join in the victory won for us by Jesus. Jesus won the victory and the battle is fought out of that spiritual victory. Just keep in mind that when you decide to respond to this battle cry, there may be some "Christians". who step up to judge you and battle with YOU, but read Jeremiah 20:11 11 But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him, my persecutors will stumble.
They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten.
Listen!! Can you hear The Battle Cry? Time to get in the battle and realize more and more victories in your daily walk with Jesus. The cry has gone out and now we must respond!! To do nothing is doing something. It is rejecting the Battle Cry of God. We fight this battle with the Spirit's power and Paul also wrote this to the church in Ephesus in Ephesians 5: 15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.17 Don’t act thoughtlessly but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
The Pilgrimage Continues..
David Warren