Some thoughts about being engaged in the battle…
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this
present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”
(Eph. 6:12).
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but
have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4).
Spiritual warfare at its core is breaking agreement with
darkness and stepping into alignment with God’s truth. Being an intercessor
entails more than intercessory prayer and praying words to God on behalf of
others.. It is a position of being; it is a lifestyle that flows from the way
we think to the way we act. It is standing upon the truth of Scripture and not
wavering. It is moving forward through the process day by day to see
breakthrough in the restoration we are contending for. It is being rooted and
established in the faith... trusting God, staying loyal to God, not becoming
bitter, but waiting on God in the midst of the battle, resting in His presence,
trusting our Deliverer to fight with and for us, to stretch out His mighty,
strong right hand and vindicate His people.
Though there is much injustice in the world, I am incredibly
excited because God is in the business of raising up men of valor and women of
fortitude to stand as Boromir* in the end hour – redeemed from their previous
selfishness, fully alive to the need of the vulnerable in front of them, and
trusting God for an endurance of self denial to stand against the oppressor and
fight for the freedom of others even when they are being pierced by arrows.
*Boromir is a character from the Lord of the Rings who was
power/control hangry (yes, hangry), and was only on the journey with Frodo for
selfish ambition, but in the end gave up his life to see the vulnerable hobbits
go free. He was shot multiple times with arrows from the orcs, but his hand
clung to the sword and he kept striking back in their defense until his final
breath.
It is Christ in us who enables us – for He patiently endured
the cross, for the sake of those He loved, for the sake of those who still
hated Him… He demonstrated true heroism. He went to the lowest place to bring
us to the highest place: because He is our Mighty Intercessor. He fights for us
so we can experience the fullness of joy in His presence, at His right hand.
We are called to stand as intercessors, to fight for
justice, and stand for the weak and vulnerable. God is looking for someone to
say yes to standing in the gap.
I am incredibly encouraged by the example of Nehemiah: a
mighty man of intercession. He patiently endured through suffering, through the
wrestling, through the opposition of rebuilding broken down walls. He believed
that nothing could stand against God’s plan of restoration. He broke agreement
with those who sought to oppress him and he stood in agreed with God. Nehemiah
was called by God to restore the broken walls of Jerusalem because God’s people
were vulnerable to enemy attack. He demonstrated a life of intercession: he was
burdened over the disrepair of God’s city, he fought for restoration, he
prayed, he declared God’s faithfulness and spoke God’s promises, he walked in
repentance, he sought God’s direction, he sought the welfare of the vulnerable,
he stood against opposition and did not waver from the truth in the midst of
the lies that came against his work, he was continually ready to stand against
the enemy, he relied on God’s strength, he stationed his men in the gap in the
lowest places while exhorting them to not fear but remember how great and
awesome the Lord is who will fight for them. They kept building the wall,
laboring with one hand and holding a sword in the other. Nehemiah persevered in the work of restoration, fortifying Israel who was vulnerable, and saw the
restoration of the wall finished. Revival then broke out among the people. Ezra
read the law to the people, and they confessed their sin, and the joy of the
Lord became their strength. There was much celebration in Israel as they
rediscovered the beauty of covenant and came out of their ruins in strength,
recognizing the power of their faithful God.
It says in Isaiah 58 that those who let the oppressed go
free, those who loose the bonds of wickedness and share their bread with the
hungry, those who satisfy the desire of the afflicted, WILL have their light
rise in the darkness. The Lord will guide them continually and their ancient
ruins will be rebuilt. They shall raise up the foundations of many generations
and will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell
in.
The paradox of grace is that in coming to the end of our
strength and in our brokenness and weakness, when we feel that we cannot go
another step and our heart and flesh fail, our hands are tired in the battle, and
darkness seems to be gaining momentum, God becomes our Strength as we come out
of the wilderness, leaning upon Christ our Solid Rock. His grace enables us to
do that which we cannot. His ability meets us in our inability and we are given
grace in the midst of the fire to sing songs of worship. He will not let us
burn out, but will make the light break forth like the dawn. Are we willing to
step into the heart of darkness so that a song of restoration can be sung among
the screams of those in agony of soul? Jesus is the light that shines in the
darkness, and the darkness does not and will not overcome His light. His melody
of restoration will become louder and LOUDER. Will we sing with Him a melody of
restoration?
God’s grace is amazing. It is sufficient. God will equip us
and empower us to walk victoriously. There will be times where pain seems more
real than anything else, but joy will gush out in the midst of suffering, and
peace that surpasses understanding will guard our heart and mind in Christ
Jesus. God will give us grace to endure in victory – He will give us the
measure needed to match what He calls us to do. He will not overwhelm us beyond
our capacity, but will keep us in His presence, secure in His embrace. He is
our Source. In Him is everything needed for life and godliness. In Him is
fullness of joy, perfect peace, a hiding place from the enemy. Dependency upon
Him is key. We must be willing to be broken so He can fill us, stripping us of
our own control over things, so that He can fill us and live through us in His
power, in His strength. So let the weak say: “I am a warrior and I am strong,
for my position is in Christ, my source of strength.”
Wait upon Him in trustful dependency, for everything will be
right in the end. We know the story doesn’t end in ashes and ruins, but in joy
and restoration. Wait: in quietness and trust. Jesus ever lives to make intercession
and stand in the gap. Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our Refuge, Banner, will secure
victory for those who call upon Him. He is so much more committed to freedom, deliverance,
and restoration than we could ever be.
Corrie Ten Boom’s family had a hiding place for Jews in
their home when the Nazis were hunting them. Corrie was anxious about what
would happen if they were caught and what suffering they might face as a
result. Her father spoke to her:
“Corrie,” he began gently. “When
you and I go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your ticket?” “Why, just before
we get on the train.” “Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're
going to need things, too. Don't run out ahead of him, Corrie. When the time comes
that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the
strength you need – just in time.”
God will extend to you a “grace ticket” in times of need, to
give you the measure of strength you need in that moment. “Let us then with confidence
draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to
help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Continue in the work, for God is being glorified through
your obedience. “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor
is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).
God is our shelter and in His presence there is rest in the
midst of the spiritual war that wages. He is our Hiding Place, our Refuge, our
Fortress.
You are my hiding
place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of
deliverance. –Psalm 32:7
You are my refuge and
my shield; your word is my source of hope. –Psalm 119:114
Keep me as the apple
of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings. –Psalm 17:8
For he will hide me in
his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his
tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. –Psalm 27:5
Deliver me from my
enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge. –Psalm 143:9
For you are my safe
refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. –Psalm 61:3
Our God is a God who
saves! The Sovereign LORD rescues us from death. –Psalm 68:20
He who dwells in the
shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will
say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” –Psalm
91:1-2
Trust in him at all
times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. –Psalm
62:8
God is our refuge and
strength, an ever-present help in trouble. –Psalm 46:1
He will cover you with
his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are
your armor and protection. –Psalm 91:4
The LORD is my rock,
my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my
shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. –Psalm 18:2
He is my steadfast
love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom
I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. –Psalm 144:2
He alone is my rock
and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. –Psalm 62:6
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