This
is not an army for just anyone. You have to be called and chosen, personally
selected by the commander-and-chief himself. After an amazing welcome ceremony
and extensive training you are standing alongside a platoon of new recruits.
The air is buzzing with excitement. Suddenly a helmet gets put on you, then
body armour, belt and shoes. Finally a sword and shield is thrust into your
hands. You gaze your eyes over them and notice these are no ordinary weapons.
They have amazing detail and have been carefully crafted. You feel amazing!
2 Timothy 2:3-7 NIV
Endure hardship with us like a
good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in
civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if
anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he
competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to
receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will
give you insight into all this.
Soon
you are all transported to an unknown destination. The target is a small castle
located on top of a hill. You are told this is new territory that has to be taken. Together with a small
company of soldiers in a covert operation at night, your feet hit the ground
and you start running. Suddenly the enemy comes out like a flood and all of
hell is unleashed against you!
You
start fighting back and thrusting your sword. You make some progress, but all
of a sudden ten arrows get lodged 100km/h into your shield; and these arrow
tips are on fire! The shock scares the living daylights out of you and you step
back momentarily. You get hit in the side and you retreat back to the hospital
for immediate medical attention.
A few
weeks later you are back on the battlefield and the enemy comes right at you.
You start fighting one on one – parry… thrust… parry… thrust. You refuse to
step back but press forward until the enemy is backed into a wall. You strike
him down and on the third blow he is destroyed.
The
same happens with other enemies that come at you. You find that your sword and
shield is far superior to theirs. You strike them down easier than you had
imagined. You and your fellow soldiers take the castle and put up the flag of
your kingdom. VICTORY!
Several
days later you are back on the battlefield with a platoon of soldiers and
leaders fighting with you this time. The general advises everyone of a change
in direction. You are ordered to head down a dark path in a forest you are sure
is unsafe, riddled with booby traps. Suddenly, the enemy comes out like a flood
and has the entire platoon surrounded.
Booby
traps go off everywhere and many soldiers are hit by incoming fire. You fight
back to back with your officer and make some progress. Suddenly you get hit
from behind sure your leader had your back. The call to retreat is sounded and
many run but some sadly taken captive. You are heavily wounded but still manage
to evade capture.
The
pain this time is unbearable. You lose all rational thoughts of thinking and
feel terribly insecure. Trust in those above you has been broken. Others who
were fighting alongside you also got wounded, everyone except the leaders. Some
you started out with leave the army and encourage you to do the same. But you
press on, there’s no turning back. You have come too far. There is too much at
stake. You reason there is nothing worth going back to anyway. Besides, you
have been chosen by the commander-and-chief himself, and you don’t want to let
him down.
A few
months later you are back on the same battlefield with the platoon and the
enemy comes right at you. You’re a different man now; more resilient, stronger,
wiser, experienced. Attacks don’t surprise you anymore. In a matter of moments
the enemy is defeated, one after the other after the other.
You
take new ground and are at a place you have never been before. You come across
the POW camp and release the prisoners, declaring freedom to the captives.
Later you are promoted to a platoon of soldiers for excellence in bravery and
overcoming against the odds. You put up the flag of your kingdom. VICTORY!
You
feel invincible. The following week there is another castle still to be
captured. It is deep in unchartered territory but you reason victory is
achievable. Against orders you venture out in a covert operation with a few
chosen soldiers, trusted and experienced in battle. You are full of destiny and
vision but pride and ego have now set in. You don’t want to admit so you
conveniently ignore it. You set out and your unit is ambushed by the enemy. You
fight well for a time but you get hit with your shield not proving to withstand
the onslaught of fiery arrows. You retreat back to the medical hospital
questioning all the way just what went wrong…
--------------------------------------------------------------
The
Fight of Faith
Welcome
to the battlefield Christian. What did you expect? A walk in the park?
Strolling through tulips and roses?
Faith isn’t casually heading down a path leading to heaven without any
problems. The truth is there is a spiritual war raging all around you against
your soul.
When
you give your life to Christ you automatically enlist into God’s end time army.
Opposition and battles come your way as a by-product. Being a Christian is
warfare on a galactic scale. Heaven knows you and hell knows you. You have
unlimited potential to take much ground and achieve greatness for the Kingdom
of God. You are a massive threat, so all the enemy’s forces will stop at
nothing to take you out.
The
enemy is very cunning and scheming. He has had centuries of experience and
knows human nature very well. He has no new tricks because the ones he uses are
always effective. His weapons are only lies of discouragement, disappointment,
fear and intimidation. We are the
ones who choose to believe them and let them lead us astray or not.
Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV
Finally, be strong in the Lord
and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour 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 the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers
of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms.
Much
is at stake and God needs more than conquerors in His army. The fight of faith
is to be bold, dedicated and strong in the day of trial and temptation. It is
also to be incredibly surrendered and humbled. To have childlike faith, a pure
heart and clean mind. To be shrewd as snakes but as innocent as doves.
The
fight of faith is similar to castles and domains that you need to take. Battles
can be against areas of strongholds, temptations to overcome, difficult people
and physical places. Hardship handled correctly is greatly beneficial and
profitable. Always know that the enemy is never people – it is the devil and
the kingdom of darkness.
Capturing
fortresses, mountains and castles is your objective. Every battle you go
through you only get stronger in your authority. When you beat that castle you
beat that area in your life! It is okay you will make mistakes along the way.
We will all fall at some point – ourselves and others. If you get wounded
church is our hospital for restoration, healing, guidance and strength in our
time of need. We
learn greatest by making one major mistake over 100 successes any day.
Ephesians 6:13 NIV
Therefore put on the full armour
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.
Take
heart today Christian. The enemy is fighting a losing war. You are on the
winning side, victory has already been declared. Our role is to simply be
faithful and go where the Holy Spirit guides and leads us. When you’re going
through a battle, always remember at the end of the day… we win!!
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